best email marketing services

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Email Marketing Services for Small Businesses in 2024

As a seasoned digital marketing expert with over 15 years of experience, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of email marketing. In an era dominated by social media and fleeting trends, email marketing stands as a beacon of stability and direct connection with your audience. It’s a channel you own, allowing you to cultivate lasting relationships with your customers, nurture leads, and drive conversions without the whims of algorithms.

However, navigating the world of email marketing tools can feel overwhelming. With countless options vying for your attention, choosing the right platform for your small business can be a daunting task. That’s where this comprehensive guide comes in. I’ve meticulously researched and tested the top email marketing services, analyzing their features, ease of use, pricing, and overall effectiveness for small businesses.

My goal is to equip you with the knowledge and insights you need to select the perfect platform to fuel your email marketing success. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade your existing setup, this guide will illuminate your path to a thriving email strategy.

So, let’s dive into the world of email marketing and discover the best tools to help you reach, engage, and convert your target audience.

How We Tested and Reviewed Email Marketing Tools

At WPBeginner, we have a long-standing commitment to providing our readers with the most reliable and up-to-date information. Our team has extensive experience using and evaluating various email marketing services, ensuring that our recommendations are based on real-world insights and thorough testing. Here’s how we approach our reviews:

• Real-World Experience: We’ve used several email marketing services, including MailChimp, Drip, Kit (formerly ConvertKit), Constant Contact, and HubSpot, on our own online businesses (publishing and eCommerce) for years. This hands-on experience allows us to understand the nuances of each platform and identify the strengths and weaknesses that cater to different business needs.
• In-Depth Testing: For services we haven’t used extensively, we sign up for accounts, meticulously test features, and create real email campaigns. This comprehensive approach ensures that we thoroughly evaluate the email builder, contact segmentation tools, automation features, and overall email deliverability.
• Beginner-Friendly Focus: We prioritize services that are easy to use for beginners, offering intuitive interfaces, user-friendly email editors, and clear explanations of key features. This makes it easier for small businesses with limited technical experience to jump in and start leveraging the power of email marketing.
• Ecommerce Considerations: We recognize the importance of automation for ecommerce businesses. We carefully assess platforms offering robust automation features like abandoned cart recovery, welcome series, and product recommendations, helping ecommerce store owners maximize their sales potential.
• Fair Pricing: We understand the budgetary constraints of small businesses. Our reviews consider pricing models, free tiers, and value for money, ensuring that you find a platform that fits your budget without sacrificing essential features.

Why Trust WPBeginner?

WPBeginner has been a trusted authority in the WordPress community for over 16 years. Our team of experts possesses deep knowledge and experience in WordPress, SEO, email marketing, web hosting, and more. We are committed to providing our readers with unbiased and reliable recommendations, backed by extensive research, hands-on testing, and our editorial process.

The Best Email Marketing Services for Small Businesses in 2024

Now, let’s dive into the details of each recommended email marketing service. We’ll explore their strengths, weaknesses, and pricing, empowering you to make the best decision for your small business:

1. Constant Contact

Constant Contact consistently ranks as our top choice for small businesses. Its user-friendly interface, beginner-friendly features, and exceptional customer support make it an ideal platform for those starting their email marketing journey.

Pros of Constant Contact Email Marketing Service

• Beginner-Friendly Interface: Constant Contact’s intuitive design makes it easy to navigate and create visually appealing emails, even without prior email marketing experience. You’ll find a wide selection of pre-designed templates and a drag-and-drop email editor to customize your messages to your liking.
• Email Automation: While Constant Contact excels in its ease of use, it also offers powerful automation features. You can create automated email sequences, such as welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, and birthday greetings, to engage your subscribers and nurture relationships.
• Social Media Integration: Constant Contact integrates seamlessly with popular social media platforms, allowing you to easily share your email content on Facebook, Twitter, and other channels. This expands your reach and allows you to engage your audience across multiple platforms.
• List Segmentation: Segmenting your email list allows you to send highly targeted and relevant messages to different subscriber groups. Constant Contact offers powerful segmentation options based on demographics, interests, purchase history, and more, ensuring that your emails resonate with the right audience.
• Unlimited Emails: Constant Contact provides unlimited email sending, removing any limitations on your ability to grow your business and connect with a wider audience. This is especially valuable for small businesses that are experiencing rapid growth or plan to launch large-scale email campaigns.
• Exceptional Customer Support: Constant Contact stands out with its unparalleled customer support. You can access live chat, phone calls, email support, and a vibrant community forum. They also offer in-person seminars, providing comprehensive guidance and hands-on training to help you maximize your email marketing efforts.

Cons of Constant Contact Email Marketing Service

• Email Template Design: While Constant Contact’s templates are easy to use, some might find them less modern compared to other platforms. If you prioritize visually striking email designs, you might need to invest more time in customizing the templates to achieve your desired look and feel.
• Pricing for Large Lists: Constant Contact’s pricing can become more expensive as your contact list grows. If you plan to scale your business significantly, the cost might become a factor in your decision-making process. Exploring alternative platforms with more affordable pricing models for larger lists could be beneficial.
• Basic Analytics: Constant Contact provides essential email tracking and analytics, but it doesn’t offer the level of detail and advanced reporting found in some other platforms. If you require in-depth insights into your email performance, you might need to consider a platform with more robust analytics features.

Why We Recommend Constant Contact Email Marketing Service

We recommend Constant Contact as our #1 choice for small businesses due to its combination of beginner-friendly features, powerful automation tools, exceptional customer support, and a robust set of marketing resources. It’s a great platform for anyone starting out or those who want a platform that can grow with their business.

Pricing:

Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial (no credit card required). After that, their pricing starts as low as $12/mo.

For WPBeginner users: Use our Constant Contact coupon code to get an additional 20% off for 3 months. Starting at $10.20/mo.

2. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue)

Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, is a versatile platform that offers a comprehensive suite of email marketing, SMS marketing, CRM, and automation features. It’s a great option for businesses looking for a multi-channel marketing solution and those who appreciate a generous free plan.

Pros of Brevo Email Marketing Service

• Free Plan: Brevo offers a completely free email marketing plan with unlimited contacts. This allows you to test the platform and build your email list without any upfront costs. However, the free plan limits you to 300 emails per day, making it suitable for smaller lists or infrequent campaigns.
• User-Friendly Interface: Brevo features a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to create and send emails, manage your subscriber lists, and set up automations. It also offers a drag-and-drop email editor, making it simple to customize your emails visually.
• Marketing Automation: Brevo provides advanced automation features to create automated email sequences, welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, and more. You can also segment your audience and personalize emails based on subscriber behavior to enhance engagement and conversions.
• AI-Driven Deliverability: Brevo uses AI technology to optimize email deliverability, ensuring that your messages reach your subscribers’ inboxes. This helps improve your open rates and overall campaign performance.
• SMS Marketing: Brevo integrates SMS marketing into its platform, allowing you to send text messages to your subscribers, providing another channel for reaching them and delivering timely updates or promotions.
• Landing Page Builder: Brevo includes a landing page builder, enabling you to create dedicated pages for capturing leads and driving conversions. This allows you to create a cohesive marketing funnel and track your results effectively.
• Sales CRM: Brevo’s sales CRM lets you manage your leads, track their interactions, and nurture them through the sales process. This helps you streamline your customer communication and convert more leads into paying customers.

Cons of Brevo Email Marketing Service

• Free Plan Limitations: While the free plan is generous in terms of contacts, the 300 emails per day limit can hinder growth for businesses with larger lists or those sending more frequent emails.
• Pricing for Advanced Features: Brevo’s pricing can become more expensive if you require access to advanced features, high-volume email sending, or multi-user accounts. This can be a factor to consider if you’re a rapidly growing business or need access to a wide range of features.
• Limited Customer Support: Brevo’s live chat and phone support are limited based on your chosen plan. If you require immediate assistance or prefer more hands-on support, you might want to consider a platform with broader support options.

Why We Recommend Brevo Email Marketing Service

We recommend Brevo for its user-friendly interface, robust automation features, AI-driven deliverability, and the inclusion of SMS marketing and a CRM within the platform. It’s a great platform for beginners due to its free plan, but it’s also powerful enough to support the needs of growing businesses.

Pricing:

Brevo offers a completely free email marketing plan with unlimited contacts. Their free plan lets you send up to 300 emails per day, but all your emails will have their branding.
The paid plans start from $9 per month for Starter. You can also include SMS on your account, but the pricing will vary based on your sending requirements.
For more information, see our Brevo review.

3. HubSpot

HubSpot is a well-known name in the CRM and marketing automation space. Their email marketing platform is free to use and provides a comprehensive set of features, making it a powerful option for small businesses looking to build a robust marketing infrastructure.

Pros of HubSpot Email Marketing Service

• All-in-One Solution: HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing platform that includes email marketing, CRM, automation workflows, sales tools, a website builder, and an operations hub. This integrated approach provides a centralized platform for managing all aspects of your marketing, streamlining your workflow and providing a comprehensive view of your customer interactions.
• Personalized Email Campaigns: The seamless integration of HubSpot’s CRM with its email marketing platform enables highly personalized email campaigns. You can leverage detailed subscriber data, such as demographics, website behavior, and purchase history, to craft targeted emails that resonate with individual preferences. This results in higher engagement rates and better conversions.
• Drag-and-Drop Email Builder: HubSpot’s email builder is user-friendly, featuring a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to easily create visually appealing emails without requiring extensive technical expertise. You can choose from a wide selection of templates and customize them to match your brand’s style and messaging.
• Detailed Analytics: HubSpot provides comprehensive email analytics, giving you in-depth insights into your email performance. You can track open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and more, enabling you to identify areas for improvement and optimize your campaigns for better results.
• Free Plan: HubSpot’s free plan includes both its CRM and email marketing tools, offering exceptional value for small businesses. You can manage an unlimited number of contacts and send up to 2,000 emails per month, making it a great option for businesses starting out or those with smaller email lists.

Cons of HubSpot Email Marketing Service

• Pricing for Scaling: While HubSpot’s free plan is generous, it can become expensive as you scale your business. The paid plans offer more advanced features and increased email sending limits, but the cost can escalate quickly for businesses with larger lists or those requiring more robust automation capabilities.
• Complexity for Beginners: HubSpot’s integrated approach, while powerful, can be overwhelming for beginners. The platform offers a wide range of tools and features, which can be confusing for those new to email marketing or marketing automation. It’s important to allocate time to learn the platform and its capabilities to maximize its potential.
• Third-Party Integrations: HubSpot’s integration with third-party tools can be challenging. While it offers a good range of integrations, some businesses might find it difficult to connect with specific tools or platforms they rely on. This can require additional workarounds or custom integrations.

Why We Recommend HubSpot Email Marketing Service

We recommend HubSpot for its comprehensive marketing platform, robust automation features, personalized email campaigns, and detailed analytics. Its free plan provides a solid foundation for small businesses, and its paid plans offer scalable solutions for growing businesses. However, be prepared to invest time in understanding the platform’s capabilities to get the most out of its features.

Pricing:

The free version allows you to send 2,000 emails and store an unlimited number of subscribers. You can create custom signup and popup forms, build landing pages, manage and track your online ads, and more. It has all the tools you need to get started.

If you need more advanced capabilities, then HubSpot email marketing plans start at $15 per month (paid annually).

For more details, see our HubSpot review.

4. Omnisend

Omnisend is a powerful email and SMS marketing platform specifically designed for ecommerce businesses seeking to boost their sales and optimize their customer journey. It stands out with its generous free plan and robust automation features.

Pros of Omnisend Email Marketing Service

• Generous Free Plan: Omnisend offers one of the most generous free plans in the email marketing space. It includes a wide range of powerful features, such as pre-built automation workflows, subscriber segmentation, A/B testing, performance reports, and even SMS + web push notifications. This makes it a great choice for businesses starting their ecommerce journey or those with smaller budgets.
• Ecommerce Focus: Omnisend is built specifically for ecommerce marketing campaigns. It offers pre-built automation workflows designed to drive revenue and optimize the customer journey. These include emails like welcome series, abandoned cart emails, cross-sell emails, and more, enabling you to target specific customer segments and maximize conversions.
• Seamless Integrations: Omnisend seamlessly integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, BigCommerce, and more. This allows you to easily connect your store data with Omnisend, enabling you to segment your subscribers based on purchase history, product preferences, and other valuable insights.
• Easy-to-Use Email Builder: Omnisend’s email builder is user-friendly and provides a large selection of customizable email templates to get you started quickly. You can design visually appealing, on-brand campaigns with ease, even without extensive design experience.
• Powerful Targeting & Segmentation: Omnisend offers advanced targeting and segmentation features to personalize your emails based on subscriber data and behavior. This allows you to send highly relevant and engaging messages that resonate with individual preferences, boosting your open rates and conversions.
• Built-in SMS Marketing: Omnisend includes SMS marketing as a built-in feature, eliminating the need for separate software or services. You can send SMS messages to your subscribers in 209 regions worldwide, providing another channel for reaching them and delivering timely updates or promotions.

Cons of Omnisend Email Marketing Service

• Ecommerce Focus: While Omnisend’s features are powerful for ecommerce businesses, they may be less relevant for other types of websites or businesses. If you’re not an ecommerce store, you might want to explore other platforms with broader functionality.
• SMS Marketing Costs: SMS marketing can be costly, especially for international campaigns. While Omnisend offers a free plan that includes SMS, be aware that sending SMS messages to international recipients can incur additional costs. Consider these costs when choosing a plan and budgeting for your marketing efforts.
• Unlimited Email Limitations: The unlimited email option in Omnisend is only available in their enterprise plan, which can be expensive for small businesses and startups. If you’re on a tight budget and need unlimited email sending, you might need to explore more affordable options with unlimited email features in their lower-tier plans.

Why We Recommend Omnisend’s Email Marketing Service

We recommend Omnisend for ecommerce businesses seeking an effective omnichannel marketing solution that seamlessly integrates with their online stores. We particularly appreciate its pre-built automation workflows, which can significantly boost revenue generation, and its generous free plan, which includes A/B testing, subscriber segmentation, SMS, and web push notifications.

Pricing:

Omnisend’s free email marketing plan allows you to contact up to 250 subscribers, and their paid plans start at $16 per month.

See our Omnisend review for more information.

5. Campaigner

Campaigner is an advanced email marketing platform designed to empower small businesses with powerful automation features to increase conversions and sales. It’s a great choice for those looking to create complex marketing workflows and personalize their emails with granular detail.

Pros of Campaigner Email Marketing Service

• Advanced Automation: Campaigner offers a robust set of automation features, allowing you to quickly build simple or complex email and SMS workflows. You can create automated sequences for welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, re-engagement campaigns, and more. This helps nurture your subscribers through the customer journey and drive conversions.
• User-Friendly Workflow Builder: Campaigner’s workflow builder is intuitive and easy to use, making it simple to create and manage your email marketing campaigns. You can visually drag and drop different elements, such as triggers, actions, and conditions, to construct complex automations without requiring coding knowledge.
• Responsive Email Templates: Campaigner provides a vast library of over 900 responsive email templates, allowing you to quickly design visually appealing and engaging emails. You can choose from a wide selection of templates, customize them to match your brand, and ensure that your emails look great on all devices.
• Advanced Personalization: Campaigner goes beyond basic personalization, offering advanced options like geolocation, purchase behavior, past engagement, and dynamic content. This enables you to create highly targeted and relevant messages based on your subscribers’ unique traits, resulting in higher engagement and conversions.
• Reputation Defender: Campaigner includes a Reputation Defender addon that helps protect your email list from invalid or risky emails. This ensures that your emails are delivered to real people and helps maintain your email deliverability rates.

Cons of Campaigner Email Marketing Service

• Complexity for Beginners: Campaigner’s powerful automation features and workflow builder can be overwhelming for beginners or small businesses with simpler email marketing needs. If you’re starting out with email marketing, you might find a platform with a more simplified approach easier to manage.
• Limited SMS Features in Lower Plans: Full access to SMS marketing and automation features is only available in Campaigner’s higher-tier plans. If you need robust SMS functionality from the start, you might need to consider a platform that offers more comprehensive SMS features in its lower-tier plans.
• Customer Support Response Time: Campaigner’s customer support can take time to respond, making it challenging for users who require immediate assistance. If you value quick and responsive support, you might want to explore platforms with more readily available support channels.

Why We Recommend Campaigner?

We recommend Campaigner for its automation features, which enable small businesses to nurture subscribers through various stages of the conversion funnel using email and SMS channels. We particularly appreciate its vast library of email templates, its advanced personalization options, and its Reputation Defender addon. It’s a powerful platform for those looking to create complex marketing workflows and personalize their emails to the highest degree.

Pricing:

Campaigner offers a free 30-day trial that gives you access to all of their features. Pricing starts at $53 per month for up to 5,000 subscribers.

If you have a large email list, Campaigner’s pricing is more affordable than other email marketing solutions. For example, Omnisend costs $81+ per month for 5,000 subscribers.

6. Drip

Drip is a powerful email marketing platform designed for ecommerce businesses, bloggers, and digital marketers who need robust automation features, advanced personalization capabilities, and seamless integration with their online stores. It’s a popular choice for businesses looking to maximize their marketing efforts and optimize their sales funnels.

Pros of Drip Email Marketing Service

• Ecommerce Integration: Drip integrates seamlessly with popular ecommerce platforms, offering features like revenue attribution, helping you understand the impact of your email marketing on your sales. You can track revenue generated from specific email campaigns and optimize your strategy for better results.
• Powerful Automation: Drip provides powerful automation features, allowing you to create complex customer journeys with ease. You can segment your audience, personalize emails, and trigger automated sequences based on subscriber behavior, such as website visits, purchases, or engagement with specific content.
• Audience Segmentation & Personalization: Drip offers robust segmentation and personalization features, allowing you to create targeted email campaigns based on subscriber interests, purchase history, and other valuable data. This ensures that your emails resonate with individual needs and preferences, increasing engagement and conversions.
• Behavior-Based Targeting: Drip captures user behavior and interactions across platforms, enabling highly targeted and effective marketing tactics. You can send personalized emails based on specific actions, such as adding products to their cart, visiting a particular page, or clicking on specific links, creating a more tailored and engaging experience.
• Comprehensive Support: Drip provides a comprehensive range of support options, including live chat support, webinars, automation training, detailed courses, free guides, and excellent documentation. This allows you to troubleshoot issues quickly and learn how to leverage the platform’s capabilities effectively.

Cons of Drip Email Marketing Service

• Higher Pricing: Drip’s pricing is on the higher side compared to some of its alternatives, especially for smaller businesses. If you’re on a limited budget, you might want to consider more affordable platforms with similar features.
• No Permanent Free Plan: Unlike some other email marketing tools, Drip does not offer a permanent free plan. You can access a free trial, but you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan to continue using the platform. This can be a factor to consider if you’re looking for a completely free solution or if you need to test the platform before committing to a paid plan.
• Simple Email Templates: Drip’s email templates are relatively simple, requiring more effort to create visually appealing and engaging emails. If you prioritize design aesthetics, you might want to invest time in customizing the templates to achieve your desired look and feel.

Why We Recommend Drip Email Marketing Service

We recommend Drip for its powerful and intelligent marketing automation tools, email segmenting, and seamless integration with WordPress and WooCommerce. We particularly appreciate its user-friendly drag-and-drop automation builder, split testing features, list groups, and ecommerce revenue attribution. It’s a robust platform for businesses seeking advanced features to maximize their marketing efforts and drive revenue growth.

Pricing:

Drip offers a free trial, and plans start from $39 / month, which includes all the features.

Recently, they’ve also added SMS notification as a feature to all plans, which allows you to connect with your users on both email and SMS marketing channels. This makes Drip a true all-in-one email marketing platform for store owners.

7. Moosend

Moosend is an affordable email marketing service that caters to small businesses with a focus on user-friendly features, powerful automation tools, and detailed analytics. It’s a great option for those seeking a balance of cost-effectiveness and advanced features.

Pros of Moosend Email Marketing Service

• Affordability: Moosend is known for its affordability, offering competitive pricing plans and a 30-day free trial. This makes it an attractive option for small businesses with limited budgets or those starting their email marketing journey. You can test the platform and see if it meets your needs before committing to a paid plan.
• User-Friendly Interface: Moosend features a simple and easy-to-use interface that allows you to design and execute email campaigns without needing extensive technical skills. You can create visually appealing emails, manage your subscriber lists, and set up automations with ease.
• Marketing Automation in All Plans: Moosend includes marketing automation features in all its plans, even the most basic ones. This allows you to create personalized subscriber journeys, send targeted emails based on subscriber behavior, and automate routine tasks, making your email marketing more efficient and effective.
• Detailed Analytics: Moosend provides detailed email analytics, giving you insights into your email performance. You can track open rates, click-through rates, bounces, product views, purchases, and more, allowing you to identify areas for improvement and optimize your campaigns for better results.
• AI-Powered Optimization: Moosend leverages an AI engine to optimize your email marketing efforts. It provides recommendations for improving subject lines, optimizing content, and sending emails at the best times. This AI-powered guidance can help you maximize your email performance and get better results.

Cons of Moosend Email Marketing Service

• Customer Support Experience: While Moosend offers customer support, some users report that the experience is not as good on the basic plans compared to other services. If you require more comprehensive or personalized support, you might want to consider upgrading to a higher-tier plan.
• Email Deliverability Challenges: Moosend has faced challenges with email deliverability in the past, which can impact the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. This means that your emails might end up in spam folders, reducing your reach and engagement. Ensure you take steps to improve your email deliverability to maximize your success.

Why We Recommend the Moosend Email Marketing Service

We recommend Moosend to small businesses due to its affordability, user-friendly interface, and powerful marketing automation features. We like its personalized automation workflows, detailed analytics, and conversion optimization tools. The best part is that Moosend ensures all users, regardless of their plan, can access advanced features like A/B testing, email heatmap analytics, and AI-driven product recommendations. This makes it a great option for businesses looking for a cost-effective solution with a comprehensive set of features.

Pricing:

Moosend offers a 30-day free trial with an unlimited number of emails (no credit card required). After that, their pricing starts at $9 per month for their Pro plan, which includes a landing page builder, transactional emails for ecommerce websites, team management, and more.

Bonus: More Email Marketing Platforms

While we’ve highlighted the top email marketing services, there are other excellent platforms available for small businesses. These platforms offer free plans or free trials, allowing you to explore their features and find the best fit for your needs:

Bonus #1. AWeber

AWeber is a well-established email marketing service provider, offering a wide range of tools for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s known for its user-friendly interface, robust automation features, and a generous free plan for up to 500 subscribers.

• Easy Integration: AWeber seamlessly integrates with most popular platforms, including WordPress. This makes it easy to connect your website with AWeber and start building your email list.
• Ready-to-Use Templates: AWeber provides access to ready-to-use HTML email templates, making it quick and easy to design professional-looking emails. You can choose from a variety of templates and customize them to match your brand’s style.
• Powerful Features: AWeber offers advanced features like AMP emails, automatic RSS-to-email for bloggers, and tag-based subscriber segmentation. These features allow you to create dynamic and engaging emails that resonate with your audience.
• Extensive Integrations: AWeber provides numerous integrations with popular CRM software, email verification tools, membership plugins, and lead generation tools, allowing you to connect your email marketing strategy with other essential business tools.
• Comprehensive Support: AWeber offers comprehensive support options, including live chat, phone support, email support, live webinars, and a vast library of tutorials. This provides a range of resources to help you navigate the platform and troubleshoot any issues.

Pricing:

AWeber offers a limited free plan for up to 500 subscribers. After that, pricing starts from $12.50/month. You can also sign up for quarterly or annual plans to save even more.

See our complete AWeber review for more details.

Bonus #2. Kit (Formerly ConvertKit)

Kit is a powerful email marketing platform specifically designed for professional bloggers, authors, and marketers. It offers a unique blend of user-friendliness, advanced features, and a focus on creating engaging content.

• Content Upgrades & Incentives: Kit’s most unique feature is its ability to easily offer content upgrades and incentives with email signup forms. This allows you to provide valuable content to your audience in exchange for their email addresses, building a highly engaged subscriber base.
• Targeted Email Marketing: Kit makes it easy to segment subscribers into groups based on their interests and purchase history. This allows you to send targeted emails that feel more personalized, leading to higher engagement and conversions.
• Advanced Features: Kit offers a full suite of features expected from a top-notch email marketing service, including A/B testing, beautiful email templates, a landing page builder, smart workflows, and more. This ensures that you have the tools you need to create successful and effective email campaigns.
• Dedicated Creator Features: Many Kit features, such as paid newsletters, are specifically designed for creators and professional bloggers. This makes it an ideal platform for those who want to monetize their content through email marketing.

Pricing:

Kit offers a free plan with limited features for up to 10,000 subscribers. Pricing starts from $9/month (paid annually), depending on the number of subscribers you have. There is also a 30-day refund policy.

The Creator Pro plan also includes advanced functionality, such as a newsletter referral system, subscriber engagement scoring, advanced reporting, and Facebook custom audiences.

Bonus #3. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing platforms globally, primarily due to its forever-free plan. While it’s not our top recommendation due to the emergence of more advanced and affordable alternatives, its widespread use makes it worth considering.

• Forever-Free Plan: Mailchimp’s free plan allows you to send up to 10,000 emails per month to up to 2,000 subscribers. This makes it a great option for businesses starting out or those with small email lists.
• Easy-to-Use Interface: Mailchimp’s interface is relatively straightforward, making it easy to create and send emails, manage your subscriber lists, and track your campaigns.
• Basic Automation: Mailchimp offers basic automation features, such as autoresponders and segmenting contacts into groups. This allows you to send automated emails based on specific triggers or actions.

Pricing:

Mailchimp’s paid plans start from $13/month, and the pricing increases based on the number of subscribers in your audience.

However, if you want unlimited audiences, advanced audience segmentation, multivariate testing, and comparative reporting, then you’d have to move to their $350/month plan.

Conclusion

Choosing the right email marketing service is crucial for your small business’s success. The platforms we’ve highlighted offer a range of features, pricing models, and strengths that cater to different needs. Here’s a recap of our top recommendations:

• Constant Contact: Best overall for small businesses, offering user-friendliness, powerful automation, exceptional customer support, and a robust set of marketing resources.
• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue): Ideal for businesses seeking a multi-channel marketing solution, offering email marketing, SMS marketing, CRM, and automation features, all with a generous free plan.
• HubSpot: The best all-in-one marketing platform for growing businesses, providing email marketing, CRM, automation workflows, sales tools, a website builder, and more.
• Omnisend: The best choice for ecommerce businesses, offering robust ecommerce automation features, a generous free plan, and seamless integration with popular ecommerce platforms.
• Drip: Ideal for businesses seeking advanced automation, personalization, and ecommerce integration, offering a powerful platform to maximize marketing efforts and drive revenue growth.
• Moosend: Best for small businesses looking for an affordable and user-friendly platform with powerful automation tools, detailed analytics, and AI-powered optimization features.

Remember, your choice should align with your specific business goals, budget, and technical expertise. Take advantage of free trials and explore the features of each platform to find the perfect match for your small business.

FAQs

Can I do bulk email marketing from my Gmail or Outlook?

While technically possible, using Gmail or Outlook for bulk email marketing is strongly discouraged. These email platforms are designed for personal and professional communication, not for sending mass emails. Bulk sending can quickly lead to your account being flagged as spam, resulting in suspension or even permanent closure. It’s best to use dedicated email marketing services designed for managing large email lists and ensuring high deliverability rates.

Which is the best free email marketing service?

Many email marketing services offer free tiers, but the best option for a free plan is Brevo (formerly Sendinblue). Its free plan doesn’t limit the number of subscribers, allowing you to grow your list without any upfront costs. Other notable free plans include HubSpot, Omnisend, and Mailchimp.

How much does email marketing cost?

The cost of email marketing varies depending on the number of subscribers, the volume of emails you send, and the platform you choose. Small businesses typically spend around $20 to $300 per month managing their own email campaigns. If you use