By Phil Norris January 23, 2024
Sending e mail newsletters is widely known as one of the efficient methods to achieve, have interaction, and convert your viewers, with over 90% of promoting professionals describing e mail advertising and marketing as a minimum of considerably vital to enterprise success.
So it’s no shock that the overwhelming majority of manufacturers ship e mail campaigns a minimum of as soon as per week:
To maintain your viewers engaged and make your content material memorable, you must select a publication software program software that makes it simple to design lovely, high-engagement emails that land the place you need them to: in the primary inbox.
However with tons of of publication platforms to select from, it’s onerous to know the place to begin.
That’s why we’ve accomplished the analysis for you and compiled our checklist of the 9 finest publication software program platforms, highlighting their:
- Person opinions
- Key options
- Free performance
- Technical help
- Pricing
And we’ve even supplied sensible ideas for selecting your ideally suited publication software program software.
Let’s get into it…
How to decide on the perfect e mail publication software program: What to search for
The general finest e mail publication platform for you will naturally rely by yourself particular necessities. However the overwhelming majority of content material creators, coaches, on-line market sellers, and small companies ought to prioritize instruments that provide the next options:
Excessive e mail deliverability
While you ship emails to your pals, household, and colleagues out of your private or enterprise account, you may really feel fairly assured they’ll attain their supposed vacation spot.
It is because you’ve acquired a historical past of back-and-forth conversations.
However this will not be the case while you’re sending your publication, so that you’ll undoubtedly need a software that allows excessive e mail deliverability.
Many publication software program platforms shout about their sky-high e mail supply, however that doesn’t assure your newsletters will truly be seen.
Why?
As a result of e mail supply isn’t the identical as e mail deliverability; these six additional letters make an entire world of distinction:
- Electronic mail supply is whether or not the receiving mail server accepted the e-mail and delivered it to the mailbox, no matter which folder it lands in.
- Electronic mail deliverability is whether or not the e-mail is positioned within the recipient’s major inbox.
In different phrases, even when a software claims a 99.9% supply charge, your newsletters might nonetheless find yourself in spam, promotions, updates, or another folder that by no means will get checked.
So don’t be swayed by flashy-sounding supply statistics; discover out what they’ll do to maximise your e mail deliverability.
For example:
- Do they require a confirmed opt-in e mail? This easy affirmation helps stop individuals from receiving unsolicited newsletters.
- Do they permit individuals utilizing their platform to import a bought e mail checklist? This can be a main pink flag that they permit spam to be despatched from their publication platform.
- Do they adhere to ISP (Web Service Supplier) requirements for managing and sending opt-in e mail?
These are only a few of the proactive measures that assist publication platforms obtain robust deliverability.
Strive-before-you-buy capabilities
Finally, the easiest way to grasp if a platform is best for you is to learn the opinions and suggestions, be sure that it’s acquired all the suitable options, then attempt it your self.
For that cause, you must search for publication software program instruments that provide a completely free plan, not only a limited-time free trial, so you may navigate the varied options and see if it’s an excellent match.
A 14-day trial simply isn’t sufficient to actually familiarize yourself with a platform.
Straightforward-to-use e mail builder
Ideally, you don’t wish to pay builders to code your emails and graphic designers to make them look good — you wish to do it your self (even if you happen to don’t have a ton of technical abilities).
So we suggest prioritizing platforms with user-friendly e mail builders, like a drop-and-drop editor for including and arranging your design.
Constructed-in monetization
Not all e mail instruments have built-in ecommerce performance.
This can be a key consideration, as a result of most individuals don’t begin e mail newsletters for the sake of it — they do it to earn cash, whether or not by way of…
…or another tactic.
No matter your monetization technique, be sure that your chosen publication platform helps it.
Time-saving content material creation instruments
Not everyone seems to be a pure born designer or copywriter.
And even if you’re, it’s nonetheless good to have a serving to hand while you’re feeling somewhat uninspired.
That’s why we suggest selecting a publication platform that options inventive help instruments like:
- AI writing aids that will help you brainstorm concepts and switch them into partaking copy.
- RSS feeds so as to add your most up-to-date posts, podcasts, movies, and merchandise in your emails.
- Options that assist you to make fast updates to each facet of your newsletters.
- Constructed-in graphic design instruments like Canva so as to add wealthy pictures to your emails.
Dynamic segmentation
Just about each publication platform presents some type of viewers segmentation performance, which lets you lower and slice your e mail checklist based mostly on shared traits and behaviors.
However to actually stand out, you need a publication platform that allows dynamic segmentation.
Conventional segments are static, which implies a buyer will stay in a section till you progress them to a brand new one.
In the meantime, dynamic segments replace in actual time based mostly on buyer behaviors.
For example, think about you run an ecommerce retailer. If a client spends $300 inside three months, they might be robotically moved to your dynamic “VIP buyer” section, so you may ship them focused newsletters encouraging them to purchase much more.
Instruments to develop your viewers
Sadly, e mail lists don’t develop by themselves.
You want some method to get individuals to subscribe by way of touchdown pages, sign-up kinds, and popups.
Don’t have your individual web site?
That’s not essentially an issue, as a result of some e mail publication platforms will host your kind or touchdown web page for you.
9 finest publication software program platforms
Now let’s take a extra in-depth take a look at every platform…
1 – AWeber
Critiques
Greatest for: All-round publication performance
AWeber is finest for individuals searching for an all-round e mail publication platform that does a little bit of every thing. Nice for coaches, content material creators, bloggers, affiliate entrepreneurs, and sellers on on-line marketplaces like Etsy.
Key options
- #1 on-line graphic design software, Canva, constructed instantly into the e-mail builder.
- Common theme settings permits you to change fonts, colours, buttons, dividers, and extra from a single management.
- Electronic mail robotically despatched to subscribers the second you publish new blogs, movies, merchandise, and extra.
- RSS feed that can auto-display titles, descriptions, and pictures for revealed content material and merchandise.
- Drag-and-drop e mail builder for straightforward publication customization.
- Signup kinds and touchdown pages to assist develop your publication checklist.
- Gross sales pages and a number of cost choices to monetize your publication.
- Dynamic content material and segmentation allow you to ship personalised viewers experiences.
- Net push notifications on all plans allow you to achieve your viewers past the inbox.
- In-house e mail deliverability workforce with intensive deliverability administration and experience.
- AI writing software to brainstorm concepts and create draft newsletters in seconds.
- Break up-testing permits you to measure which topic line, preview textual content, message content material, and ship time variants ship the perfect outcomes.
Buyer Assist
All AWeber customers — even these on the free plan — can contact the help workforce by way of stay chat and e mail help, whereas paying prospects may entry telephone help.
Free performance
On AWeber’s free plan you may have as much as 500 subscribers and ship as much as 3,000 emails a month. It additionally presents entry to superior instruments, together with a touchdown web page builder, lead seize kinds, and segmentation.
Pricing
Paid plans begin at $12.50 per thirty days for as much as 500 subscribers and limitless emails.
Join an AWeber account in the present day.
2 – Fixed Contact
Critiques
Greatest for: Multichannel advertising and marketing
Fixed Contact is an effective match for entrepreneurs seeking to leverage a number of channels — e mail, SMS, and social media — from inside a single platform.
Key options
- AI-powered topic line suggestions.
- Use the drag-and-drop editor or begin with certainly one of 200+ templates.
- Personalize your newsletters with dynamic content material blocks that replace based mostly on who sees them.
- Use the cellular app to handle campaigns out of your telephone.
- Bolt on SMS messaging to run multichannel advertising and marketing campaigns.
- Lengthen your attain by posting on Fb, Instagram, and LinkedIn from inside the platform.
- Generate leads utilizing the built-in touchdown web page builder.
Technical Assist
All Fixed Contact prospects can entry self-service, stay chat, and phone-based help, no matter which plan they’re on. Nonetheless, they don’t supply e mail help.
Free performance
Fixed Contact doesn’t have a free product tier. As an alternative, it presents a 60-day free trial with a 100-email ship restrict.
Pricing
Costs begin at $12 per thirty days for as much as 500 contacts and 5,000 month-to-month e mail sends.
3 – Mailchimp
Critiques
Greatest for: Superior publication analytics
Knowledge-driven entrepreneurs will love Mailchimp’s subtle reporting instruments, which give real-time insights on emails, automations, ecommerce efficiency, and extra.
Key options
- Get inspiration to your publication design from a library of 100+ pre-built e mail templates.
- Optimize your publication campaigns utilizing superior analytics and reporting instruments that pull in knowledge from a number of platforms, together with Google Analytics and Shopify.
- Create high quality content material quicker with generative AI instruments, accessible on Mailchimp’s Customary and Premium plans.
- Construct optimized touchdown pages and even a complete web site utilizing the Mailchimp platform.
- Ship personalised messaging at scale utilizing multichannel automations.
- Combine with 300+ apps and instruments, together with QuickBooks, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
Technical Assist
Mailchimp’s technical and buyer help varies by worth plan. Necessities and Customary subscribers get 24/7 e mail and chat help, whereas top-tier Premium prospects take pleasure in telephone and precedence help. On the free plan, customers are restricted to e mail help — and just for the primary 30 days after they join.
Free performance
Mailchimp’s free plan consists of as much as 500 subscribers and 1,000 month-to-month e mail sends, plus kinds, touchdown pages, and restricted entry to reporting instruments and publication templates.
Pricing
Paid plans begin at $13 per thirty days for as much as 500 subscribers and 5,000 month-to-month e mail sends.
4 – MailerLite
Critiques
Greatest for: Low-cost e mail advertising and marketing
MailerLite is likely one of the lowest-cost publication platforms available on the market.
Key options
- Design emails your means utilizing both the drag-and-drop editor, wealthy textual content editor, or HTML e mail editor.
- Collect viewers suggestions by embedding surveys inside your newsletters.
- Add social sharing options to increase your viewers.
- Goal a number of audiences with a single e mail by filtering who can see sure content material sections.
- Monetize your publication by connecting your on-line retailer or promoting digital merchandise and subscriptions.
- Get a headstart with 50+ professionally designed publication templates.
Technical Assist
All paying MailerLite prospects obtain 24/7 e mail help, whereas Superior and Enterprise subscribers additionally get entry to stay chat help. Should you’ve acquired a free MailerLite account, you’ll should make do with as much as 30 days of e mail and chat help.
Free performance
MailerLite’s free plan permits you to ship 12,000 month-to-month emails to as much as 1,000 contacts and in addition consists of entry to the platform’s touchdown web page, lead seize kind, and automation builders.
Pricing
Paid plans are priced from $10 per thirty days for as much as 500 subscribers and limitless emails.
5 – Flodesk
Critiques
Greatest for: Huge publication lists with easy wants
Whether or not you’ve acquired 100 publication subscribers or 100,000, Flodesk costs you a similar month-to-month sum (though there’s an additional price for ecommerce performance).
Key options
- Pay one mounted charge, irrespective of how briskly your publication grows, with a single worth plan for as much as 100,000 subscribers.
- Make data-backed selections by analyzing your hottest emails, sending occasions, and extra.
- Develop your publication checklist by constructing sign-up kinds and touchdown pages.
- Create on-brand newsletters by importing your individual fonts and branded graphics (though customized fonts aren’t suitable with all e mail suppliers).
- Bolt on ecommerce performance to monetize your content material by way of gross sales pages, cost processing, and checkout flows.
Technical Assist
Flodesk solely presents email-based technical help. They reply emails from 6 am to six pm ET, usually inside two enterprise days.
Free performance
Flodesk does technically supply a free plan, however it doesn’t embrace any newsletter-sending performance — only a free link-in-bio software for lead technology.
Pricing
To ship e mail newsletters by way of Flodesk, you’ll have to pay $35 per thirty days (plus an additional $24 per thirty days so as to add ecommerce performance). The e-mail advertising and marketing plan consists of as much as 100,000 subscribers.
6 – Substack
Critiques
Greatest for: Thought leaders and influencers
If you have already got a giant viewers and want to monetize by way of paid newsletters, Substack might be the proper publication platform. It’s not fairly as efficient if you happen to’re attempting to develop an e mail checklist from scratch.
Key options
- Monetize your newsletters by charging your readers subscriptions of $5 – $75 per thirty days.
- Ship newsletters freed from cost; Substack simply takes a lower of your subscription charges.
- Change your present publication to Substack by importing mailing lists and content material archives from Medium, Tumblr, WordPress, and different platforms.
- Determine which posts to publish without spending a dime and which to maintain behind your subscription paywall.
- Develop your viewers with in-platform suggestions, visitor posts, mentions, and referrals.
Technical Assist
You may attain out to Substack’s help workforce by way of stay chat or by submitting a request by way of an onsite kind.
Free performance
Substack is completely free for writers; they make their cash by charging a proportion of your subscription charges.
Pricing
Whilst you don’t technically pay Substack something, they preserve 10% of your subscription charges. You retain the remaining, minus bank card and transaction charges.
7 – ActiveCampaign
Critiques
Greatest for: Enterprise-grade e mail advertising and marketing
ActiveCampaign’s subtle segmentation instruments and multi-user enhancing performance make the platform a preferred alternative for advertising and marketing groups at massive companies. Plus it’s comparatively dear, which could delay particular person content material creators and smaller groups.
Key options
- Arrange lovely campaigns in minutes utilizing the drag-and-drop e mail designer.
- Ship focused e mail campaigns at scale with ActiveCampaign’s segmentation and dynamic content material instruments.
- Run cut up assessments to grasp which newsletters generate probably the most opens, clicks, and gross sales.
- Get impressed by tons of of responsive e mail templates for B2B and B2C entrepreneurs.
- Preserve your sender popularity excessive with automated list-cleaning to take away inactive contacts.
- Collaborate on publication design and marketing campaign setup with multi-user enhancing.
Technical Assist
ActiveCampaign prospects can entry technical help by way of stay chat or by submitting a request by way of an onsite submission kind.
Free performance
ActiveCampaign doesn’t have a free plan. As an alternative, it presents a 14-day free trial that features entry to most — however not all — of the platform’s options.
Pricing
Paid plans are priced from $29 per thirty days for 1,000 contacts and 10,000 month-to-month e mail sends.
8 – GetResponse
Critiques
Greatest for: E-newsletter insights
Should you’re the kind of marketer who likes to investigate stay knowledge and course-correct quick, GetResponse is a robust alternative, supplying you with real-time entry to a bunch of key publication metrics (assume open charges, click-through charges, bounce charges, and extra).
Key options
- Construct and host limitless webinars for as much as 1,000 stay attendees and retailer as much as 20 hours of webinar recordings.
- Generate partaking, industry-specific topic strains right away with the AI creator software.
- Design skilled emails rapidly with drag-and-drop blocks of textual content, pictures, CTA buttons, and extra.
- Browse a library of 200+ e mail templates optimized for varied advertising and marketing targets.
- Construct segments based mostly on subscribers’ onsite actions and the way they work together together with your newsletters.
- A/B check topic strains, pictures, publication layouts, and CTA buttons to optimize marketing campaign efficiency.
- Monitor key metrics and knowledge factors like open charges, click-through charges, and click on maps in actual time.
Technical Assist
Free customers don’t get any technical help. All paying prospects obtain e mail and chat help, whereas Enterprise prospects can entry telephone help. Chosen Max subscribers may attain out by way of Slack.
Free performance
The free GetResponse plan offers you a listing for as much as 500 contacts and allows you to ship as much as 2,500 newsletters per thirty days. It additionally consists of entry to the platform’s touchdown web page builder, sign-up kinds, and web site builder.
Pricing
GetResponse’s paid plans begin at $15.60 per thirty days for as much as 1,000 contacts and limitless month-to-month emails.
9 – ConvertKit
Critiques
Greatest for: Content material creators who want a primary publication software
ConvertKit doesn’t supply probably the most superior reporting or subtle segmentation. However if you happen to’re a content material creator who simply needs to ship e mail newsletters (whereas making the most of some neat viewers progress instruments), it’s a fantastic alternative.
Key options
- Create newsletters utilizing the easy, block-based visible e mail builder.
- Embed a number of content material varieties — together with tweets, movies, and merchandise — in your newsletters.
- Use tags and segments to prepare your publication subscribers from a single e mail checklist.
- Develop your viewers by way of ConvertKit’s built-in suggestions engine, or by utilizing the platform’s touchdown web page and sign-up kind builders.
- Monetize your content material by charging a subscription price or promoting digital merchandise like on-line programs and ebooks.
Technical Assist
ConvertKit presents three completely different tiers of buyer help. Free customers should depend on group help, whereas paying prospects get e mail and stay chat help. Creator Professional subscribers obtain precedence help.
Free performance
ConvertKit’s free plan consists of as much as 1,000 subscribers and limitless e mail broadcasts, touchdown pages, and sign-up kinds.
Pricing
The entry-level ConvertKit plan, Creator, prices $9 per thirty days for as much as 300 subscribers and limitless publication sends. It additionally features a bunch of performance that’s not accessible on the free plan, comparable to automated e mail sequences and the chance to develop your e mail checklist by way of paid promotions with different creators.
Select the perfect all-round publication software program
Naturally we’re biased, however we really consider AWeber is the perfect publication software program for many use instances — particularly if you happen to’re a content material creator, coach, on-line market vendor, affiliate marketer, or small enterprise.
Our costs are inexpensive.
Our e mail creation instruments are easy to grasp, however with all the delicate options you must create beautiful, partaking content material every time — assume an AI-powered writing assist, built-in Canva entry, and extra.
Our common theme settings assist you to change colours and fonts, add buttons and dividers, and rather more in addition to — all from a single management.
Our signup kinds and touchdown pages show you how to construct a devoted viewers of people that can’t wait to your subsequent publication.
And that’s only for starters.
After all, we don’t anticipate you to take our phrase for it.
See for your self by signing up for a free account in the present day!
