Email marketing is the best way to connect with my audience and convert them into subscribers and paying customers.
I tried several email marketing tools, but many were either too complicated for beginners or didn’t deliver the results I needed. From my experience, these are the features that really matter—ease of use, email deliverability, automation capabilities, and affordability.
Today, I successfully use email marketing to grow WPBeginner and several online businesses. It helps me build strong relationships with visitors and drive revenue for my businesses.
In this guide, I’ll share my experience with the best email marketing services for all kinds of businesses. Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or someone starting an online store, this list will help you choose the right email tool to grow your audience and business.
Why Trust My Recommendations?
Hi, my name is Syed Balkhi. I’m the founder of WPBeginner and CEO of Awesome Motive. I’m a serial entrepreneur who has been building online businesses since 2006.
Over the years, I’ve tried almost every email marketing service out there to grow my websites, connect with my audience, and increase revenue. From running simple email newsletters to building advanced automation workflows, I’ve seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t.
Here’s why you can trust my recommendations:
- Hands-On Experience: I’ve personally used all the email marketing tools listed in this article across my businesses and projects.
- Comprehensive Testing: My team and I rigorously test each service for ease of use, deliverability, automation features, and overall value.
- Community Feedback: Through WPBeginner, I’ve helped thousands of users choose the right email marketing service and gathered their feedback to ensure these tools meet real-world needs.
- Transparency: I only recommend services based on real data, user experiences, and the value they provide. I don’t recommend tools that I wouldn’t use myself.
This guide is the result of years of experience, thorough testing, and feedback from the WPBeginner community. I’m confident it will help you find the best email marketing service to grow your audience and take your business to the next level.
Quick Pick – The Best Email Marketing Services for Small Businesses
If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at all my recommended email marketing services.
| Email Marketing Service | Best For | Free / Trial | Pricing / mo | WPBeginner Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Best email marketing service for small businesses | 14-day Trial | $12 | A++ (Review) |
 | Budget-friendly options for startups | Yes | $9 | A+ (Review) |
 | Businesses & marketers | Yes | $15 | A+ (Review) |
 | eCommerce stores | Yes | $16 | A (Review) |
 | Advanced email marketers | 30-day Trial | $53 | A |
 | eCommerce automation | 14-day Trial | $39 | A |
 | Freelancers & small teams | 30-day Trial | $9 | A |
What Makes the Best Email Marketing Service?
Choosing the right email marketing service can be overwhelming, especially with so many options out there. After testing countless tools over the years, I’ve narrowed down the key factors that make an email marketing service stand out:
- Ease of Use: The best email marketing tools offer an intuitive interface, drag-and-drop editors, and pre-made templates so that beginners can create professional campaigns without any hassle.
- Email Deliverability: A good email marketing service ensures your emails land in inboxes, not spam folders. This is critical for achieving high open and click rates.
- Automation Features: Look for tools that allow you to automate campaigns, segment your audience, and trigger emails based on user behavior. This will help you save time and improve results.
- Scalability: As your business grows, you’ll need a service that can handle larger email lists and more advanced marketing workflows without breaking the bank.
- Integrations: The best email marketing platforms integrate seamlessly with WordPress, eCommerce tools, customer relationship management software (CRMs), and other third-party apps.
- Value for Money: You want a tool that fits your budget but doesn’t compromise on essential features like reporting, A/B testing, and segmentation.
The email marketing services I’ve listed in this guide excel in all of these areas. Whether you’re a small business, blogger, or an eCommerce store, you’ll be able to find a tool that meets your needs and helps you grow your audience.
How I Tested and Reviewed Email Marketing Tools
I have personally tested each tool for my own businesses using a hands-on approach. My goal was to evaluate their real-world performance, ease of use, and value for money.
Here’s how I tested and reviewed each platform:
- Ease of Use: I signed up for each service and tested their dashboard, email builder, and campaign setup process. Tools with easier campaign tools, templates, and good user experience ranked higher in my review.
- Deliverability: I have used these platforms to send emails for my own businesses. This gave me insight into their email deliverability performance. A higher deliverability rate was crucial for ranking high.
- Features and Automation: I explored each platform’s automation workflows, segmentation capabilities, and advanced features like A/B testing and triggers. Tools with powerful automation features scored higher.
- Integrations: I checked how easily each email marketing service integrates with WordPress, WooCommerce, CRMs, and other third-party marketing tools. Smooth integrations are a must for businesses.
- Pricing and Value: I compared pricing plans, free trials, and overall value for the features provided. Tools that offered generous free plans or competitive pricing performed better.
- Customer Support: I contacted each platform’s support team to evaluate response times and helpfulness. Reliable customer support adds significant value to any tool.
Each tool was put through these rigorous tests to ensure I could recommend them confidently. The results you’ll see in this guide are based on real usage, data, and experience—not marketing hype. For more details, see the WPBeginner editorial process.
Now that you know what to look for in an email marketing service and how I tested each platform, let’s dive into the reviews. I’ve carefully selected the best tools based on real-world performance, features, ease of use, and value for money.
Each email marketing service on this list excels in specific areas, whether it’s automation, deliverability, or budget-friendly pricing. I’ll share what I liked about each tool, where it shines, and how it can help you grow your audience and business.
Let’s get started!
1. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is my top choice for email marketing services, particularly for small businesses and beginners. I’ve found it to be the easiest platform even if you’re completely new to email marketing.
I appreciated how quickly I could set up my first email campaign. Its email templates make designing professional emails simple, and the error-checking feature helps you avoid common mistakes like forgotten placeholder text or links.
Constant Contact also includes advanced features like list segmentation, email automation, surveys, coupons, and A/B testing. Its integration with Shopify and WooCommerce is particularly helpful if you run an online store.
I also had a good experience with customer support, with quick response times and easy fixes.
 |
| Pricing: $12/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: 14 days |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Email automation and drip campaigns 🔹 300+ pre-designed templates 🔹 A/B testing for subject lines 🔹 Surveys, polls, and list segmentation 🔹 eCommerce integrations |
| WPBeginner Rating: A++ |
| Best For: Small businesses 🏆 |
Pros of Constant Contact
- Beginner-friendly interface with error-checking tools.
- Pre-designed templates for easy email creation.
- Advanced features like automation, surveys, and A/B testing.
- Excellent customer support via live chat, phone, and seminars.
- Powerful list segmentation and social media integrations.
Cons of Constant Contact
- Some templates look outdated compared to competitors.
- Pricing increases as your contact list grows.
- Basic analytics and reporting could use more advanced options.
Why do I recommend Constant Contact? I recommend Constant Contact because it’s incredibly easy to use while offering all the tools you need to grow your email list and increase engagement. Its support team and in-person seminars make it valuable for small businesses.
Pricing: Constant Contact offers a 14-day free trial (no credit card required). Paid plans start at $12/month.
For WPBeginner users: Use my Constant Contact coupon code to get 20% off for 3 months. Plans start at $10.20/month.
My Experience: If you’re starting with email marketing, I believe Constant Contact is a great place to begin. When I tested it, I found it offers all the right features for beginners. My personal favorite is its error-checking feature that fixes common mistakes like forgotten placeholder text or links. See my complete Constant Contact review for more details.
2. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, is one of the best options for businesses on a budget. I like how Brevo combines email marketing, SMS campaigns, CRM, and automation into one powerful platform.
The biggest highlight for me is Brevo’s free plan, which allows you to have unlimited contacts and send up to 300 emails per day. While this is limited for high-volume needs, it’s still one of the most generous free plans on the market.
Brevo also comes with advanced features like email automation, landing page building, live chat, and Facebook ads integration. I find these tools incredibly valuable for growing businesses that want an all-in-one solution.
However, Brevo doesn’t offer as many email templates as Constant Contact, and live chat and phone support are limited depending on your plan. If you need advanced features, you may need to upgrade to a higher tier, which can increase costs.
 |
| Pricing: Starts at $9/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes (300 emails/day) |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 Email automation and workflows 🔹 Unlimited contact storage 🔹 CRM and SMS marketing 🔹 Landing page builder 🔹 Transactional SMTP email 🔹 Facebook ads integration |
| WPBeginner Rating: A+ |
| Best For: Budget-friendly email marketing |
Pros of Brevo
- Generous free plan with unlimited contacts.
- Advanced features like email automation, CRM, and SMS marketing.
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.
- Facebook ads integration and landing page builder.
- Transactional email support via SMTP.
Cons of Brevo
- The free plan is limited to 300 emails per day.
- Fewer email templates compared to competitors.
- Phone and live chat support are limited to higher plans.
Why do I recommend Brevo? I recommend Brevo because it combines powerful features with a generous free plan. It’s an excellent option for growing businesses that need email automation, CRM, and transactional email capabilities without breaking the bank.
Pricing: Brevo offers a free plan with 300 daily emails and unlimited contacts. Paid plans start at $9/month for Starter.
My Experience: I’ve tested Brevo’s free plan and I believe it’s the best solution if you’re looking for an email service that comes with a free plan. Its advanced features like CRM and automation workflows make it a great tool for businesses on a budget that want to scale their email marketing efforts. For more details, see my Brevo review.
3. HubSpot
HubSpot is one of the most powerful tools I’ve used for email marketing, especially when combined with its customer relationship management (CRM) platform. It’s more than just an email service; it’s a complete solution for growing your business.
While using HubSpot, I loved how easy it was to create custom newsletters using their drag-and-drop builder. The email templates were sleek and helped me quickly design professional emails without needing advanced technical skills.
What makes HubSpot unique is its integration with the HubSpot CRM. You can personalize emails based on subscriber data like location, device type, or list segmentation. With automation features and A/B testing, it gives you everything you need to boost engagement.
However, while HubSpot’s free plan is excellent for small businesses, I noticed that it becomes quite expensive as you scale up or need more advanced tools.
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| Pricing: Starts at $15/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes (2,000 emails/month) |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 CRM integration 🔹 Drag-and-drop email builder 🔹 Automation and drip campaigns 🔹 A/B testing 🔹 Detailed performance analytics 🔹 Free tools for small businesses |
| WPBeginner Rating: A+ |
| Best For: Businesses & marketers |
Pros of HubSpot
- All-in-one solution with email marketing, CRM, and sales tools.
- Highly personalized email campaigns using HubSpot CRM.
- Drag-and-drop email builder with sleek templates.
- Advanced features like automation, A/B testing, and analytics.
- The free plan includes email marketing tools and CRM.
Cons of HubSpot
- Expensive for advanced tools and scaling up.
- Complex interface with many integrated tools for beginners.
- Third-party integrations can be challenging.
Why do I recommend HubSpot? I recommend HubSpot because it combines email marketing, CRM, and advanced tools into one seamless platform. If you want to grow your business and need features like personalization, automation, and A/B testing, then HubSpot is a great choice. Its free plan is also one of the best for small businesses.
Pricing: HubSpot’s free plan allows up to 2,000 emails per month and includes its CRM. Paid plans start at $15/month when billed annually.
My Experience: I found HubSpot as an excellent platform for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution to manage their email marketing and customer relationships effectively. For more information, see my HubSpot review.
4. Omnisend
Omnisend is my top pick for eCommerce businesses that want an omnichannel marketing automation solution. It combines email, SMS, and web push notifications in one easy-to-use platform.
One thing I really like about Omnisend is its generous free plan. Unlike other platforms that limit features, Omnisend gives you pre-built automation workflows, subscriber segmentation, A/B testing, and performance reports right out of the box.
While using Omnisend, I loved the pre-built automation workflows tailored specifically for eCommerce. These include cart abandonment emails, welcome series, and cross-sell campaigns that can boost your revenue significantly.
It also integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, and other popular platforms. Plus, with built-in SMS marketing, you don’t need to use a separate tool to send SMS campaigns globally.
However, Omnisend is primarily built for eCommerce, which means its features may feel limited for other types of businesses.
 |
| Pricing: Starts at $16/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Yes (250 subscribers) |
| Standout Features: |
| 🔹 eCommerce automation 🔹 SMS and web push notifications 🔹 Segmentation and targeting 🔹 A/B testing 🔹 Performance analytics |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| Best For: eCommerce stores |
Pros of Omnisend
- Generous free plan with powerful features.
- Built specifically for eCommerce automation.
- Seamless integrations with major eCommerce platforms.
- Advanced targeting, segmentation, and A/B testing.
- Built-in SMS and web push notifications.
Cons of Omnisend
- Limited functionality for non-eCommerce businesses.
- SMS marketing can be costly, especially internationally.
- Unlimited email features are only available in higher-priced plans.
Why do I recommend Omnisend? I recommend Omnisend for eCommerce businesses looking to maximize their revenue through automated marketing. Its pre-built workflows, along with SMS and web push notifications, make it ideal for reaching customers across multiple channels.
Pricing: Omnisend’s free plan includes up to 250 subscribers with email, SMS, and web push notifications. Paid plans start at $16/month.
My Experience: I’ve used Omnisend for eCommerce campaigns, and its pre-built automation workflows have saved me a lot of time. It’s an excellent choice for online store owners who want to drive sales and grow their businesses. For more details, see my full Omnisend review.
5. Campaigner
Campaigner is one of the most advanced email marketing solutions I’ve tested. It’s packed with powerful automation tools that help you nurture subscribers through every step of the conversion funnel.
What I love about Campaigner is its easy-to-use visual workflow builder. You can create both simple and complex automation workflows for welcome series, cart abandonment, re-engagement campaigns, and more. Plus, it combines email and SMS into one platform, allowing you to reach customers on their preferred channels.
When I tried Campaigner, I was impressed with its customization options. You can set up advanced personalization like geolocation, purchase behavior, and dynamic content.
Campaigner also includes 900+ responsive email templates, making it quick and easy to create beautiful email campaigns. Combined with features like A/B testing, conversion tracking, and list hygiene tools, it’s an excellent choice for growing businesses.
However, its advanced tools can feel overwhelming for beginners, and some premium features, like SMS automation, require higher-tier plans. I also found their customer support response times to be slower than expected.
 |
| Pricing: Starts at $59/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: 30-day free trial |
| Standout Features: 🔹 Visual email builder 🔹 SMS automation builder 🔹 Advanced segmentation 🔹 900+ email templates 🔹 A/B testing & conversion tracking 🔹 Content and geolocation targeting 🔹 Reputation Defender for list hygiene |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| Best For: Advanced email marketers |
Pros of Campaigner
- Advanced automation for email and SMS workflows.
- User-friendly drag-and-drop visual workflow builder.
- 900+ responsive email templates for quick campaign creation.
- Highly customizable with advanced personalization tools.
- List hygiene tools to filter out invalid or risky emails.
Cons of Campaigner
- Complex automation tools may overwhelm beginners.
- Premium SMS automation features require higher-tier plans.
- Customer support response times can be slow.
Why do I recommend Campaigner? I recommend Campaigner for advanced email marketers who need powerful automation tools and customization options. With its visual workflow builder, dynamic content, and robust tracking, it’s a great tool for creating high-converting campaigns.
Pricing: Campaigner starts at $59/month and offers a free 30-day trial to explore all its features.
My Experience: I’ve tested Campaigner’s advanced automation tools, and they’re among the best I’ve seen for creating personalized, high-performing email and SMS workflows. It’s an excellent solution for businesses looking to scale their email marketing efforts.
6. Drip
Drip is the email marketing platform I recommend for eCommerce businesses, bloggers, and marketers looking for advanced automation tools. I’ve used Drip for several of my businesses, including WPBeginner, because it excels at segmentation, personalization, and revenue attribution.
One feature I love about Drip is its eCommerce revenue attribution. This allows me to see exactly how much revenue each email campaign has generated. This is extremely useful for tracking return on investment (ROI) and optimizing email funnels.
Drip also makes it easy to create automated workflows with its visual drag-and-drop builder. Whether it’s a welcome series, abandoned cart emails, or re-engagement campaigns, the automation options are powerful and flexible.
When it comes to integrations, Drip connects seamlessly with platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and WordPress. You can capture user behavior, segment your audience, and create targeted campaigns that increase sales.
However, Drip’s pricing starts at $39/month, which may not suit smaller businesses. It also doesn’t have a permanent free plan and has relatively simple email templates compared to other tools.
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| Pricing: Starts at $39/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Free trial available |
| Standout Features: 🔹 eCommerce revenue attribution 🔹 Advanced customer segmentation 🔹 Visual drag-and-drop automation builder 🔹 Personalized email campaigns 🔹 Seamless integration with WooCommerce and Shopify 🔹 SMS notifications and multichannel marketing |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| Best For: eCommerce automation |
Pros of Drip
- Seamless eCommerce integrations with revenue attribution.
- Powerful automation workflows with a visual builder.
- Advanced segmentation and personalization for targeted emails.
- Captures user behavior across platforms for better targeting.
- Comprehensive support via live chat, webinars, and guides.
Cons of Drip
- Pricing is higher compared to other tools.
- No permanent free plan for smaller businesses.
- Email templates are basic and require extra design effort.
Why do I recommend Drip? I recommend Drip for eCommerce businesses that need powerful email automation, advanced segmentation, and revenue tracking. Its visual workflow builder, revenue attribution, and multichannel features (including SMS) make it an excellent choice for growing online stores.
Pricing: Drip offers a free trial, and paid plans start at $39/month, including all the features. SMS notifications are also included in every plan, helping you connect with customers on multiple channels.
My Experience: I’ve used Drip for years to run high-performing campaigns for WPBeginner and other businesses. Its advanced segmentation, revenue attribution, and automation tools help me connect with my audience effectively and drive measurable results. For more details, see the case study I wrote when switching from Mailchimp to Drip.
7. Moosend
Moosend is an affordable email marketing service designed for small businesses and freelancers. It offers an impressive set of tools, including email marketing automation, list-building features, landing pages, and conversion optimization tools.
One of the things I like most about Moosend is its marketing automation, which is included even in the basic plans. With the visual workflow designer, you can create personalized subscriber journeys based on user behavior, making it easy to nurture leads.
Moosend also stands out for its detailed analytics. You can track opens, clicks, bounces, product views, purchases, and even predicted demographic data. Combined with A/B testing, heatmap analytics, and AI product recommendations, Moosend helps you optimize email campaigns effectively.
However, while testing Moosend, I noticed that their email deliverability rates are not as high as other providers like Constant Contact. Plus, their customer support can feel limited on basic plans.
That said, Moosend remains an excellent choice for small businesses due to its affordability and ease of use. It also stands out for its access to advanced features like countdown timers, landing page builders, and transactional email support.
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| Pricing: Starts at $9/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: 30-day free trial |
| Standout Features: 🔹 Visual automation workflow builder 🔹 A/B testing and email heatmap analytics 🔹 AI-driven product recommendations 🔹 Advanced email analytics and tracking 🔹 Conversion tools like countdown timers 🔹 Landing page and popup form builder |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| Best For: Freelancers & small teams |
Pros of Moosend
- Affordable email marketing service with advanced features.
- Marketing automation included in all plans.
- Detailed analytics, including opens, clicks, and conversions.
- AI tools like product recommendations and heatmaps.
- Easy-to-use interface with customizable templates.
Cons of Moosend
- Customer support is limited on basic plans.
- Email deliverability can be inconsistent.
Why do I recommend Moosend? I recommend Moosend for small businesses and freelancers looking for an affordable email marketing tool with automation features. It has tools like A/B testing, analytics, and product recommendations, which you typically only find in higher-priced platforms.
Pricing: Moosend offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $9/month and include automation workflows, landing page builders, and AI tools.
My Experience: I’ve tested Moosend and like it for its affordability and automation tools. It’s ideal for small teams and freelancers who need advanced features without breaking the bank. However, its email deliverability and support may fall short for larger businesses.
Bonus: More Email Marketing Platforms
Now that I’ve covered my top picks for the best email marketing services, there are some additional email marketing tools that you may want to check out.
Bonus #1. AWeber
AWeber is one of the oldest and most trusted email marketing platforms for small and medium businesses. Its easy-to-use tools make it a good choice for managing email lists, creating campaigns, and tracking results.
One of the things I like about AWeber is its wide range of ready-to-use email templates and the ability to customize them easily. You can quickly set up automated workflows, manage your lists, and send personalized emails using tag-based segmentation.
AWeber also integrates seamlessly with WordPress and popular plugins like MemberPress for membership sites and lead generation tools. If you’re a blogger, the automatic RSS-to-email feature is great for updating subscribers with new content.
Additionally, AWeber supports AMP emails, which allow subscribers to interact directly within the email. Features like A/B testing and detailed email tracking make it easier to optimize your campaigns.
On the downside, AWeber’s free plan is quite limited and supports only up to 500 subscribers. As your list grows, the pricing can feel higher compared to other budget-friendly alternatives like Moosend.
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| Pricing: Starts at $12.50/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Free for up to 500 subscribers |
| Standout Features: 🔹 Ready-to-use HTML email templates 🔹 Automatic RSS-to-email for bloggers 🔹 Tag-based subscriber segmentation 🔹 A/B testing and detailed email tracking 🔹 AMP emails for interactive campaigns 🔹 Integrations with CRM, membership tools, and WordPress |
| WPBeginner Rating: B+ |
| Best For: Small businesses & bloggers |
Pros of AWeber
- Wide selection of customizable email templates.
- Simple automation and list management tools.
- Automatic RSS-to-email for bloggers.
- Tag-based segmentation for targeted campaigns.
- AMP email support for interactive content.
- Seamless integrations with WordPress and popular tools.
Cons of AWeber
- The free plan only supports up to 500 subscribers.
- Pricing becomes high as your email list grows.
- Some features are less advanced compared to competitors.
Why do I recommend AWeber? I recommend AWeber for small businesses and bloggers who want reliable email tools with easy automation, customizable templates, and solid integrations. Features like RSS-to-email and AMP support make it an excellent option for content creators.
Pricing: AWeber offers a free plan for up to 500 subscribers, with paid plans starting at $12.50/month. Annual and quarterly plans come with additional savings.
My Experience: I’ve tested AWeber for managing email lists and creating automated campaigns. It’s easy to use, especially for bloggers and small businesses. While pricing increases with larger lists, AWeber remains a reliable choice for content creators. For more details, see my AWeber review.
Bonus #2. Kit (Formerly ConvertKit)
Kit is an email marketing platform for professional bloggers, authors, and content creators. It’s extremely easy to use and offers powerful tools to grow your audience and increase conversions.
One of my favorite Kit features is its ability to offer content upgrades and incentives seamlessly with signup forms. This is perfect for driving targeted signups and delivering value to your audience.
Kit makes email automation simple with its intuitive autoresponders and smart workflows. You can easily segment your audience into interested readers, subscribers, and paying customers. This helps you send highly personalized emails that feel authentic and boost conversions.
The platform also allows you to sell digital products and subscriptions directly. This is a huge benefit for creators looking to monetize their audience without using third-party tools.
Kit includes A/B testing, detailed analytics, and customizable email templates. However, its free plan has limited features, and the advanced tools, like subscriber engagement scoring and Facebook audience syncing, are only available in the Creator Pro plan.
Overall, Kit is an excellent choice for bloggers and creators who want to build a dedicated audience and monetize their email lists.
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| Pricing: Starts at $9/month (paid annually) |
| Free Plan / Trial: Free for up to 10,000 subscribers |
| Standout Features: 🔹 Content upgrades and signup incentives 🔹 Advanced audience segmentation 🔹 Drip email campaigns and autoresponders 🔹 Sell digital products & subscriptions 🔹 A/B testing and customizable templates 🔹 Creator Pro tools like referral systems and engagement scoring |
| WPBeginner Rating: A- |
| Best For: Professional bloggers & creators |
Pros of Kit
- Seamless content upgrades and signup incentives.
- Powerful audience segmentation for targeted emails.
- Monetization tools for selling digital products.
- Drip campaigns and smart automation workflows.
- Beautiful templates and advanced Creator Pro features.
Cons of Kit
- The free plan has limited features.
- Advanced tools require the Creator Pro plan.
Why do I recommend Kit? I recommend Kit for bloggers, authors, and creators who want advanced email marketing features. It’s easy to use, helps with audience growth, and includes tools to monetize content through paid newsletters and digital product sales.
Pricing: Kit offers a free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $9/month (billed annually), with advanced tools included in the Creator Pro plan.
My Experience: I’ve used Kit to build email lists and send targeted campaigns. Its tools for content upgrades, segmentation, and monetization make it ideal for creators who want to grow and engage their audience effectively.
Bonus #3. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing platforms, largely because of its forever-free plan. While I no longer recommend it as a top choice due to better alternatives, its sheer popularity makes it worth mentioning in this list. For details, see my article on using Mailchimp with WordPress.
Mailchimp offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop email builder, basic autoresponders, and simple audience segmentation. It also supports geolocation-based segmenting and delivery time optimization based on the subscriber’s time zone.
For WordPress users, Mailchimp integrates easily with plugins and platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento. If you’re just starting, their free plan can be appealing, but it comes with limited features.
One of the biggest limitations I noticed is Mailchimp’s marketing automation tools. While they’ve tried to include advanced features, Mailchimp alternatives like HubSpot or Kit are far more powerful and flexible.
Mailchimp’s support options include email, live chat, and a knowledge base. However, their support response times tend to be slow compared to providers like Constant Contact.
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| Pricing: Starts at $13/month |
| Free Plan / Trial: Free plan available |
| Standout Features: 🔹 Drag-and-drop email builder 🔹 Basic autoresponders and audience segmentation 🔹 Time zone delivery optimization 🔹 Geolocation-based targeting 🔹 Easy integrations with WordPress, WooCommerce, and Shopify 🔹 Free plan for up to 500 subscribers |
| WPBeginner Rating: B |
| Best For: Beginners on a tight budget |
Pros of Mailchimp
- Forever-free plan for beginners.
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop email builder.
- Time zone-based delivery optimization.
- Integrates with popular platforms like WordPress and WooCommerce.
- Geolocation-based segmentation options.
Cons of Mailchimp
- Marketing automation tools are limited.
- Support is slow compared to competitors.
- Pricing becomes expensive as you scale.
- Advanced features are not as robust as other platforms.
Why do I recommend Mailchimp? Mailchimp is ideal for beginners who need an easy-to-use platform with a free plan. However, it lacks the advanced tools found in other platforms like HubSpot and Kit, making it less suitable for long-term growth.
Pricing: Mailchimp’s free plan includes basic tools. Paid plans start at $13/month, with pricing increasing as your subscriber list grows. Advanced features like multivariate testing and comparative reporting are only available on higher-tier plans starting at $350/month.
My Experience: I’ve tested Mailchimp extensively and think it’s a decent option for beginners and small businesses. While it’s user-friendly, its limited automation tools and expensive pricing make it less competitive compared to providers like Constant Contact and HubSpot. For details, see why I switched away from Mailchimp.
Final Thoughts: Which Is the Best Email Marketing Service?
Are you still wondering which email marketing service is best for you? The right choice depends on your business goals and the features you need.
For instance, small businesses may need an affordable solution with easy automation, while eCommerce stores require advanced segmentation and revenue tracking.
Here are my top three picks for the best email marketing services based on my testing, personal experience, user feedback, and pricing.
I have also highlighted who they are best suited for so you can confidently choose the right platform for your needs.
1. Constant Contact
🏆 Best for Small Businesses
Constant Contact is my top recommendation for small businesses looking for an easy and reliable email marketing solution. It offers a beginner-friendly interface, a large variety of templates, and great customer support. With features like email automation, list segmentation, and A/B testing, Constant Contact helps you engage subscribers effectively. I’ve personally used it for projects where simplicity and results were key.
2. Brevo
🏆 Best for Budget-Friendly Email Marketing
Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) is my top choice for budget-conscious users who need a reliable email marketing platform with powerful features. Its free plan allows you to manage unlimited contacts, and you can upgrade as your business grows. Brevo’s advanced automation tools, SMS marketing capabilities, and CRM integrations make it a versatile solution. I love its value for money, especially for small businesses and startups.
3. HubSpot
🏆 Best for Businesses & Advanced Marketing
HubSpot is the best email marketing platform for businesses that need advanced tools for automation, CRM, and customer engagement. Its seamless integration with the HubSpot CRM allows you to create highly personalized campaigns that drive results. I recommend HubSpot for businesses and marketers who want an all-in-one platform to handle email, sales, and marketing.
If you run an online store or eCommerce website, then I recommend using Omnisend or Drip, which offer the best eCommerce email marketing software.
Many of my eCommerce business websites use Drip for email marketing. I have found its personalization and automation features well worth the money.
Pro Tip: Get More Email Subscribers, Fast!
Once you’ve picked the best email marketing service for your business, the next step is to grow your email list quickly and efficiently. Over the years, I’ve tested countless strategies and tools to boost email subscribers.
My #1 recommendation is OptinMonster. I co-founded OptinMonster back in 2013 because I needed a solution to grow my own email lists on WPBeginner and other sites.
Today, it’s the leading conversion optimization toolkit, trusted by over 1.5 million websites.
OptinMonster seamlessly integrates with all the email marketing services I’ve mentioned in this guide. It helps you convert abandoning visitors into subscribers and customers using targeted popups, slide-ins, and other proven tools.
Some of the biggest brands in the world, like McAfee, Experian, TripAdvisor, and Pinterest, use OptinMonster to grow their email lists, and I do, too.
You can read my full OptinMonster review for more details on how it works.
Here are some other tools I recommend to boost your email list growth:
- WPForms – I use WPForms across my sites to create contact forms, surveys, and polls. It integrates seamlessly with all popular email marketing platforms and is trusted by over 6 million website owners.
- SeedProd – If you want to create high-converting landing pages, then SeedProd is the tool to use. It’s my go-to landing page builder because it integrates effortlessly with email marketing services and helps you capture leads faster.
- LiveChat.com – I use LiveChat on several of my sites to connect with visitors in real time and collect their emails directly through chat.
- ChatBot.com – Automate your lead generation with smart chatbots. It integrates with email marketing tools to collect and organize emails effortlessly.
- RafflePress – I’ve seen amazing results using RafflePress for viral giveaways and contests. It’s an excellent tool for quickly growing email lists through word-of-mouth marketing.
Using these tools, I’ve grown my email lists into millions of subscribers across various businesses. Whether you’re starting or looking to scale, these tools can help you supercharge your email marketing growth.
Bonus Tip: Improve Your Email Deliverability
Even the best email marketing tools won’t be effective if your emails don’t land in your subscribers’ inboxes. While all the platforms I’ve shared in this article have excellent deliverability rates, there are a few steps you can take to improve yours even further.
1. Use a Professional Email Address
When I first started, I made the mistake of using generic email addresses like Gmail or Hotmail. Over time, I realized that email platforms like Gmail and Outlook use smart algorithms to identify spammy emails, and your sender address is a key factor they analyze.
Always use a professional email address (like yourname@yourcompany.com). Not only does this improve your brand’s credibility, but it also significantly boosts email deliverability.
2. Send Targeted Emails Based on Interests
One of the best lessons I learned early on is that sending the same email to everyone doesn’t work. Personalization is key to higher open rates and engagement. Platforms like Constant Contact and HubSpot make it easy to group your subscribers into segments like active users, non-active users, or those interested in specific topics.
I always recommend starting with a personalized welcome email to introduce your brand and learn about your subscribers’ preferences. From there, you can segment users based on their activity and interests. Sending highly targeted campaigns ensures better engagement, which improves future deliverability.
3. Make It Easy to Unsubscribe
While you want to keep subscribers, it’s important to give them a clear way to unsubscribe. Trust me, this is better than having your emails marked as spam. Email providers notice spam complaints, and that can hurt your overall sender reputation.
For even more proven tips, check out this step-by-step email marketing guide. It walks you through creating campaigns that not only get delivered but also get results.
Email Marketing Software FAQs
Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of users choose the right email marketing platform for their businesses. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I’ve come across.
Can I do bulk email marketing from my Gmail or Outlook?
Technically, yes, you can, but I strongly advise against it. G Suite and Outlook are not designed for bulk email sending, and sending bulk emails this way can quickly get your account suspended. Instead, use a professional email marketing service like Constant Contact or Brevo. They are built to handle large volumes and ensure reliable email delivery.
Which is the best free email marketing service?
If you’re on a budget, Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) offers the best free plan because it doesn’t limit the number of subscribers you can add. HubSpot, Omnisend, and Mailchimp also offer free plans with restrictions, but Brevo’s free plan has the most flexibility for small businesses.
How much does email marketing cost?
The cost of email marketing varies depending on the service you choose, the number of subscribers you have, and the volume of emails you send each month. On average, small businesses spend between $20–$300 per month if they manage campaigns themselves. If you hire an email marketing agency, the costs can go up to $500 per month or more.
Can email marketing help with SEO?
While email marketing doesn’t directly impact SEO, it can drive more traffic to your website. More traffic often leads to shares, mentions, and even backlinks, all of which can help improve your SEO rankings.
For the best results, combine your email campaigns with proven SEO tools. I recommend checking out our guide on the best WordPress SEO plugins.
Which is the best email marketing app for Shopify?
If you’re using Shopify, then I recommend Omnisend or Drip. Both tools offer powerful eCommerce marketing automation features that seamlessly integrate with Shopify and WooCommerce.
Some users also prefer Klaviyo for larger stores with advanced needs, but it can be quite expensive for small businesses.
Which is the best email marketing platform for WordPress?
For WordPress users, I recommend Constant Contact, Brevo, and HubSpot because of their deep integrations and ease of use. If you prefer native WordPress solutions, then FunnelKit Automations is an excellent choice for running email campaigns directly from WordPress.
To make sure your emails reach your subscribers’ inboxes, I recommend using the WP Mail SMTP plugin with a reliable SMTP service like SendLayer or Amazon SES.
Are there other email marketing platforms that are not listed here?
Yes, there are hundreds of email marketing services out there, but listing all of them can overwhelm readers and lead to confusion. I’ve tested most major email platforms, including MailerLite, ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, Klaviyo, Campaign Monitor, and more.
The tools featured in this guide are my top recommendations based on their features, pricing, and overall value for businesses.
Which are the best email marketing services in your opinion?
In my opinion, the best email marketing services are:
🏆 Constant Contact – Perfect for small businesses that need an easy-to-use platform.
🥈 Brevo – Best for businesses looking for affordable email and SMS marketing.
🥉 HubSpot – Ideal for growing businesses that need all-in-one marketing and CRM tools.
I highly recommend Omnisend or Drip for their advanced marketing automation features if you run an eCommerce store.
For additional engagement, consider adding web push notifications to your site. I use PushEngage on WPBeginner, and it’s now a top 5 traffic source for us.
I hope this guide has helped you choose the best email marketing service for your needs and budget. I’d love to hear about your experience, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
D.
Can I add to this that I spent hours putting together draft campaigns in Mailchimp only to fall foul at the last hurdle when they decided that the content I was intending to send to my existing customers was “a “prospecting or introductory campaign” and that they couldn’t allow me to do it.
WPBeginner Support
You would want to reach out to MailChimp’s support as depending on how you created the list, you may be getting caught in a safety measure to prevent spam.
Admin
Eldisa Haka
Does free plan of sendinblue create a email list and a newsletter?
WPBeginner Support
You would want to check with them for their current offerings but at the moment, you can do that with their free plan
Admin
Jasmin B
Awesome thank you so much this is great for email marketing
WPBeginner Support
Glad our recommendations were helpful
Admin
Bruce Maples
I have an unusual question — Do any of these services offer a way to have a real-time or query-driven connection to the data? If I could find a provider that supported some sort of SQL connection, that would be much better than what I am doing.
WPBeginner Support
We would recommend reaching out to the support for the different services with the tools you’re using on your site to see what integrations they have available.
Admin
Ankur Sood
Thanks for sharing such a great article and it’s helpful for everyone. Great Post!
WPBeginner Support
Glad you found our content helpful
Admin
Fenicia
Thank you for this information I found it to help me very much.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
Rahat
I’m going to try it for my next post.
WPBeginner Support
We wish you luck
Admin
Beth Gucio
You are a great writer. I like the way you present it. Surely, it helps a lot. Thanks for this and keep writing.
WPBeginner Support
Glad you found our content helpful
Admin
Chris jones
Such a great article, Thanks for your valuable information.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome
Admin
CHUKWU NWANNEKA
That’s a good one. I’m just a biginner, will know better soon
WPBeginner Support
Glad you found our recommendations helpful
Admin
Faisal
Are those Email marketing providers good for transactional emails?
WPBeginner Support
If you wanted to you could certainly use these services for that.
Admin
Ciara
Thanks for all the helpful information–a quick question I didn’t catch above: can you easily switch from one Email Marketing Service to another if you unhappy with the service/your business needs change?
WPBeginner Support
Yes, you can if you wanted
Admin
Omolara
Whao! This article is a great help. I will try the most top rated. It is good guide to help expose my website and products. I really appreciate this.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our article could be helpful
Admin
Zuby Singh
Besides your list, I personally use CaptureCode and they offer so much then just email marketing. They offer an entire platform for campaign management and a host of other marketing tools.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendation
Admin
Adriana Jenson
Hi there, I just wanted to offer a tip in case you’d like to update your article. I just went to the ConvertKit website, and they have a free version now! It’s for up to 500 subscribers. I think it may get some new bloggers who would typically go to Mailchimp.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you for sharing this
Admin
Adriana
You’re welcome! Happy to help. Your team helps me so much. Thank you for sharing your article!
Anantha Ram
It seems mail chimp will serve the starter needs without any discouragements! lets have a good time!
WPBeginner Support
Glad our recommendation was helpful
Admin
Stefan Ch
I’d say that regardless of which esp one picks we should always make sure that deliverability is ok. I.e. SPF, DKIM, DMARC records set up correctly, and blacklists are checked upon regularly.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendations
Admin
Pschool
thank you for providing email marketing tools and software provider for email marketing.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our recommendations could be helpful
Admin
Ranojit Kumar
I used MailChimp for my tiny startup e-commerce website. I think it’s best. I think it best for those who are looking for a lower price.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendation
Admin
Jochen
OptinMonster is a nice tool for collecting leads and mails. I am just playing around with it on a e-commerce page.
The great thing is, that I can use it on every blog or shop system.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendation
Admin
Dilraj gurjar
Sir can you please tell me some strategy to grow my email list because it’s no growing fastely. It is running slow like per day 2 or 3 subscriber
WPBeginner Support
For growing your email list, you would want to take a look at our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/12-tested-and-easy-ways-to-grow-your-email-list-faster/
Admin
Mark JC
Thanks for the article. There are two departments in my company which uses Constant Contact whole tho other uses Mailchimp. I find Mailchimp better for a bigger campaign. Great article and thanks for the comparisons.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your experience with the services
Admin
Vitus
Thanks for the wonderful comparison. Still new in email list building. Would come handy.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad our article could be helpful
Admin
Melvin Adame
I ended up going with Drip after being with Mailchimp for 3 years and it has been the best decision I could make. I have to thank the author of this article!! Thank you
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad we could recommend more options to you
Admin
Karen Tooker
Great comparison article. I’ve heard great things about Aweber and Wordpress sites and auto responders. Nice to be able to compare in one place.
WPBeginner Support
Glad our article could be helpful
Admin
Thomas
While I hear alot of good things about Sendinblue and Convertkit, I heartily recommend Mailchimp to small businesses, email marketing entrepeneurs just starting out or if you just don’t have a clue, are new to email marketing but want to find something affordable where you can start out. Then Mailchimp is for you. They miss some functions that other companies offer but the easiness and the “free up to 2 000 contacts” makes it e great starting point.
WPBeginner Support
Thanks for sharing your recommendation
Admin
Kerry Hunt
Thank you for this excellent article. I’m looking for an ESP that is easy to use and allows affiliate links. I understand some ESPs don’t allow affiliate marketing in your emails. I’d love to hear which do or don’t. Thank you!
WPBeginner Support
Most if not all email service providers should allow for affiliate links. They just do not allow affiliate marketing and by that, it means emails only for recommending products rather than keeping up a relationship with your subscribers for your content
Admin
Shakeel Anjum
Thank you WPB for providing the details of Best Email Marketing Services.
I’m currently using MailChimp and I’m currently happy with it.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad you’re happy with MailChimp
Admin
Kevin Norberg
Hey, thanks for supporting us out here! Really appreciate the quality training and content.
WPBeginner Support
You’re welcome, glad out tutorials can be helpful
Admin
Adi Rainbow
Nice Blog For The Email Marketing!
WPBeginner Support
Thank you
Admin
Trent W
Nice page really helpful and I have a question
1st ) if you choose a service and decide to change do you keep your list or have to start over
WPBeginner Support
Most if not all of the email marketing services give you the ability to export your list of users to transfer to the new platform.
Admin
Naum
Can u guys check the maijet link because when i click it doesnt take me to the maijet website, i think the link is at the forth paragraph. but thanks for the article it is very helpuful
WPBeginner Support
From testing the link appears to be working but we will be sure to keep an eye out should the links have any trouble
Admin
Okereke Divine
WPbiginner – this is the first blog that I learnt how to create wordpress back then in 2016. Today, I have also learnt a lot about the email marketing.
I really appreciate you guys existence and YES, HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad we could be helpful over such a long time
Admin
kashyap
Nice Blog For The Email Marketing
WPBeginner Support
Thank you
Admin
Sikha Mishra
Very good list, added to my favorites. I like that you broke down the questions by topics.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad you like how we broke down our article
Admin
David
MailChimp does seem to be peeling back what it offers, and over time is restricting their plans more and more… however I do believe they announced they were adding automation to the free plan a while back. I’m not sure your report on them is accurate in that sense.
WPBeginner Support
We will certainly keep an eye on any product in our articles and update the article should our opinion change
Admin
Donna
Please I need a email provider that could drop Gmail spamming to inbox……
WPBeginner Support
If you mean you don’t want your messages being sent to the spam in Gmail’s inbox then any of these services can help with that and if you reach out, also have recommendations to help prevent your message from being sent to spam.
Admin
Sanjay Sajeev
Very informative list. I am planning to buy any of Convert kit, Aweber, or Constant Contact. But I need to know Whether these Email services provide Landing pages and A/B testing tools? Since I am completely new in Email marketing, I have no idea. Kindly reply on this.
WPBeginner Support
There are different implementations for each email marketing provider. If you reach out to their support with what you would like to set up, they should be able to let you know if that is available with their platform.
Admin
Alian
I used mailchimp for some time and then switched to Tabellarius. Both give you very powerful tools under your belt if you know how to use them correctly.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you for sharing the service you’re currently using
Admin
Doug Graver
I send bulk emails to existing customers about three times per year. Usually 250-1500 at a time.
What service would you recommend? I currently use myemma and am charged monthly whether I use the service or not.
Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
You may want to start by looking at MailChimp and Drip depending on your specific needs.
Admin
Janet
I switched from Emma too, and am stuck paying their monthly bill regardless of giving 30 days notice. I missed cancelling by the auto renewal, for which no notice was given.
Kesha LAzenby
Besides MailChimp does any of these amazing platforms have a BA agreement or will be able to sign one? This is for a Foot and Ankle clinic.
Thanks for any feedback
WPBeginner Support
Yes, however, you would want to reach out to them for specifics on if it is still available.
Admin
Mikhil
Great work Syed Balkhi.
Thank you for giving those great ideas. Keep up going
WPBeginner Support
Glad you like our articles, we’ll continue to make them
Admin
Scott Webb
The biggest issue I have yet to resolve is the majority of clients I work with have customer lists in the the THOUSANDS, but have never embraced email marketing. Through personal experience with several of the platforms listed here they will not let you load your current customer list and start emailing. Even if the lists are validated and cleaned through a source like NeverBounce. With the new GDPR rules, they only want emails that have current, ongoing engagement. So in other words, even though you have been in business for years and have a list of current emails from current and past customers, you cannot load them in to these platforms with any success. This makes it very difficult for legacy businesses that now want to start communicating with all their prospects and customers.
Editorial Staff
Hi Scott, yes that is correct. Most platforms will not let you upload large customer lists if you do not have specific opt-in dates. However if you can provide the data when the user opted in to receive email notifications from you, then you would be able to import the list. These rules may vary based on different providers, but this is exactly the process for switching email service providers (you have to import customer list in the new provider).
Admin
Biplab Mahanta
Great your post on Successful Email Marketing Campaign. It helps me a lot to understand successful email marketing. Keep up the Good Work. Excited to see your upcoming posts. Thanks.
WPBeginner Support
Thank you, glad our post could help
Admin
A. Harris
Great list of providers for permission based email marketing. If you are a small business who incorporates purchased email lists into your strategy?
WPBeginner Support
We don’t recommend purchasing email list as that would be spamming the users who did not consent to be added to your email list and many other negatives against it.
Admin
Kwabena Okyire Appianing
This is a great list
currently, i am deciding which one i should go
considering covertkit, mailchimp and mailerlite
WPBeginner Support
Thanks, hope our article can help you choose the best one for you
Admin
Noel Guilford
Interested to know why you haven’t reviewed Active Campaign which I use for one of my businesses and find to be very good.
WPBeginner Support
We had to restrict the list to 7 providers, so it’s easy for people to choose. ActiveCampaign is a powerful solution and so is Pardot or HubSpot. But those are bit more advanced solutions than what a small business would need in our opinion.
Admin
David
Hi,
When I go to the Drip website, I don’t see an option for Drip offers a free account for up to 100 subscribers?
Editorial Staff
Hey David, if you go on their website and type in the quote calculator that you have 100 subscribers, it’ll show you the option for free signup.
Admin
Wouter
I am surprised that you didn’t include ActiveCampaign in the list.
Editorial Staff
Hi Wouter,
Yes, we had to restrict the list to 7 providers, so it’s easy for people to choose. ActiveCampaign is a powerful solution and so is Pardot or HubSpot. But those are bit more advanced solutions than what a small business would need in our opinion.
Admin
David
I recently switched from MailChimp to Mailerlite and have been pleased with the results. I ran into a small problem and the customer service was excellent and responded very quickly (I’m using the free plan).
Editorial Staff
Thanks for sharing your experience David
Admin