By Phil Norris January 23, 2024
Sending electronic mail newsletters is well known as one of the efficient methods to achieve, interact, and convert your viewers, with over 90% of marketing professionals describing electronic mail advertising as a minimum of considerably essential to enterprise success.
So it’s no shock that the overwhelming majority of manufacturers ship electronic mail campaigns at least once per week:
To maintain your viewers engaged and make your content material memorable, you’ll want to 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 principle inbox.
However with a whole bunch of publication platforms to select from, it’s arduous to know the place to begin.
That’s why we’ve executed the analysis for you and compiled our checklist of the 9 greatest publication software program platforms, highlighting their:
- Person critiques
- Key options
- Free performance
- Technical help
- Pricing
And we’ve even supplied sensible ideas for selecting your ultimate publication software program software.
Let’s get into it…
How to decide on the most effective electronic mail publication software program: What to search for
The general greatest electronic 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 supply the next options:
Excessive electronic mail deliverability
Once you ship emails to your folks, household, and colleagues out of your private or enterprise account, you’ll be able to really feel fairly assured they’ll attain their supposed vacation spot.
It’s because you’ve obtained a historical past of back-and-forth conversations.
However this might not be the case once you’re sending your publication, so that you’ll positively need a software that permits excessive electronic mail deliverability.
Many publication software program platforms shout about their sky-high electronic mail supply, however that doesn’t assure your newsletters will really be seen.
Why?
As a result of electronic mail supply isn’t the identical as electronic mail deliverability; these six additional letters make a complete world of distinction:
- E 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.
- E 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 price, 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 email deliverability.
As an example:
- Do they require a confirmed opt-in electronic mail? This straightforward affirmation helps stop individuals from receiving unsolicited newsletters.
- Do they permit individuals utilizing their platform to import a bought electronic mail checklist? This can be a main purple flag that they permit spam to be despatched from their publication platform.
- Do they adhere to ISP (Internet Service Provider) standards for managing and sending opt-in electronic mail?
These are only a few of the proactive measures that assist publication platforms obtain sturdy deliverability.
Strive-before-you-buy capabilities
In the end, one of the best ways to grasp if a platform is best for you is to learn the critiques and suggestions, make sure that it’s obtained all the precise options, then strive it your self.
For that purpose, you need to search for publication software program instruments that supply a completely free plan, not only a limited-time free trial, so you’ll be able to navigate the varied options and see if it’s a very good match.
A 14-day trial simply isn’t sufficient to essentially familiarize yourself with a platform.
Simple-to-use electronic 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 in case you don’t have a ton of technical abilities).
So we suggest prioritizing platforms with user-friendly electronic mail builders, like a drop-and-drop editor for including and arranging your design.
Constructed-in monetization
Not all electronic mail instruments have built-in ecommerce performance.
This can be a key consideration, as a result of most individuals don’t begin electronic mail newsletters for the sake of it — they do it to make cash, whether or not by way of…
…or another tactic.
No matter your monetization technique, make 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 once 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 participating copy.
- RSS feeds so as to add your most up-to-date posts, podcasts, movies, and merchandise in your emails.
- Options that will let you make fast updates to each side 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 provides some kind of viewers segmentation performance, which lets you lower and slice your electronic mail checklist based mostly on shared traits and behaviors.
However to essentially stand out, you need a publication platform that permits dynamic segmentation.
Conventional segments are static, which suggests 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.
As an example, think about you run an ecommerce retailer. If a consumer spends $300 inside three months, they may very well be robotically moved to your dynamic “VIP buyer” section, so you’ll be able to ship them focused newsletters encouraging them to purchase much more.
Instruments to develop your viewers
Sadly, electronic mail lists don’t develop by themselves.
You want some option to get individuals to subscribe by way of landing pages, sign-up forms, and popups.
Don’t have your personal web site?
That’s not essentially an issue, as a result of some electronic mail publication platforms will host your kind or touchdown web page for you.
9 greatest publication software program platforms
Now let’s take a extra in-depth take a look at every platform…
1 – AWeber
Opinions
Finest for: All-round publication performance
AWeber is greatest for individuals searching for an all-round electronic mail publication platform that does a little bit of all the pieces. 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 straight into the e-mail builder.
- Universal theme settings means that you can change fonts, colours, buttons, dividers, and extra from a single management.
- Email automatically sent to subscribers the second you publish new blogs, movies, merchandise, and extra.
- RSS feed that may auto-display titles, descriptions, and pictures for revealed content material and merchandise.
- Drag-and-drop electronic mail builder for straightforward publication customization.
- Signup varieties and touchdown pages to assist develop your publication checklist.
- Gross sales pages and a number of fee choices to monetize your publication.
- Dynamic content material and segmentation allow you to ship personalised viewers experiences.
- Web push notifications on all plans allow you to achieve your viewers past the inbox.
- In-house electronic mail deliverability staff with intensive deliverability administration and experience.
- AI writing tool to brainstorm concepts and create draft newsletters in seconds.
- Split-testing means that you can measure which topic line, preview textual content, message content material, and ship time variants ship the most effective outcomes.
Buyer Help
All AWeber customers — even these on the free plan — can contact the help staff through stay chat and electronic mail help, whereas paying clients may entry telephone help.
Free performance
On AWeber’s free plan you’ll be able to have as much as 500 subscribers and ship as much as 3,000 emails a month. It additionally provides entry to superior instruments, together with a touchdown web page builder, lead seize varieties, and segmentation.
Pricing
Paid plans begin at $12.50 per thirty days for as much as 500 subscribers and limitless emails.
Sign up for an AWeber account today.
2 – Fixed Contact
Opinions
Finest for: Multichannel advertising
Fixed Contact is an effective match for entrepreneurs seeking to leverage a number of channels — electronic 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 one in every 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 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 Help
All Fixed Contact clients can entry self-service, stay chat, and phone-based help, no matter which plan they’re on. Nevertheless, they don’t supply electronic mail help.
Free performance
Fixed Contact doesn’t have a free product tier. As an alternative, it provides 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 electronic mail sends.
3 – Mailchimp
Opinions
Finest 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 electronic mail templates.
- Optimize your publication campaigns utilizing superior analytics and reporting instruments that pull in information from a number of platforms, together with Google Analytics and Shopify.
- Create high quality content material quicker with generative AI instruments, obtainable 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 Help
Mailchimp’s technical and buyer help varies by value plan. Necessities and Customary subscribers get 24/7 electronic mail and chat help, whereas top-tier Premium clients get pleasure from telephone and precedence help. On the free plan, customers are restricted to electronic mail help — and just for the primary 30 days after they enroll.
Free performance
Mailchimp’s free plan contains as much as 500 subscribers and 1,000 month-to-month electronic mail sends, plus varieties, 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 electronic mail sends.
4 – MailerLite
Opinions
Finest for: Low-cost electronic mail advertising
MailerLite is without doubt one of the lowest-cost publication platforms available on the market.
Key options
- Design emails your manner utilizing both the drag-and-drop editor, wealthy textual content editor, or HTML electronic mail editor.
- Collect viewers suggestions by embedding surveys inside your newsletters.
- Add social sharing options to develop your viewers.
- Goal a number of audiences with a single electronic mail by filtering who can see sure content material sections.
- Monetize your newsletter by connecting your on-line retailer or promoting digital merchandise and subscriptions.
- Get a headstart with 50+ professionally designed publication templates.
Technical Help
All paying MailerLite clients obtain 24/7 electronic mail help, whereas Superior and Enterprise subscribers additionally get entry to stay chat help. For those who’ve obtained a free MailerLite account, you’ll must make do with as much as 30 days of electronic mail and chat help.
Free performance
MailerLite’s free plan means that you can ship 12,000 month-to-month emails to as much as 1,000 contacts and in addition contains 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
Opinions
Finest for: Large publication lists with easy wants
Whether or not you’ve obtained 100 publication subscribers or 100,000, Flodesk prices you a similar month-to-month sum (though there’s an additional value for ecommerce performance).
Key options
- Pay one mounted price, irrespective of how briskly your publication grows, with a single value plan for as much as 100,000 subscribers.
- Make data-backed choices by analyzing your hottest emails, sending instances, and extra.
- Develop your publication checklist by constructing sign-up varieties and touchdown pages.
- Create on-brand newsletters by importing your personal fonts and branded graphics (though customized fonts aren’t appropriate with all electronic mail suppliers).
- Bolt on ecommerce performance to monetize your content material by way of gross sales pages, fee processing, and checkout flows.
Technical Help
Flodesk solely provides 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 embody any newsletter-sending performance — only a free link-in-bio software for lead era.
Pricing
To ship electronic mail newsletters by way of Flodesk, you’ll must pay $35 per thirty days (plus an additional $24 per thirty days so as to add ecommerce performance). The e-mail advertising plan contains as much as 100,000 subscribers.
6 – Substack
Opinions
Finest for: Thought leaders and influencers
If you have already got a giant viewers and want to monetize by way of paid newsletters, Substack may very well be the proper publication platform. It’s not fairly as efficient in case you’re making an attempt to develop an electronic 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 Help
You possibly can attain out to Substack’s help staff through 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 share of your subscription charges.
Pricing
Whilst you don’t technically pay Substack something, they hold 10% of your subscription charges. You retain the remainder, minus bank card and transaction charges.
7 – ActiveCampaign
Opinions
Finest for: Enterprise-grade electronic mail advertising
ActiveCampaign’s subtle segmentation instruments and multi-user modifying performance make the platform a preferred alternative for advertising groups at huge 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 electronic mail designer.
- Ship focused electronic mail campaigns at scale with ActiveCampaign’s segmentation and dynamic content material instruments.
- Run break up assessments to grasp which newsletters generate probably the most opens, clicks, and gross sales.
- Get impressed by a whole bunch of responsive electronic mail templates for B2B and B2C entrepreneurs.
- Hold your sender popularity excessive with computerized list-cleaning to take away inactive contacts.
- Collaborate on publication design and marketing campaign setup with multi-user modifying.
Technical Help
ActiveCampaign clients can entry technical help through 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 provides 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 electronic mail sends.
8 – GetResponse
Opinions
Finest for: E-newsletter insights
For those who’re the kind of marketer who likes to research stay information and course-correct quick, GetResponse is a robust alternative, supplying you with real-time entry to a bunch of key publication metrics (suppose 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 participating, industry-specific topic strains immediately with the AI creator software.
- Design skilled emails shortly with drag-and-drop blocks of textual content, pictures, CTA buttons, and extra.
- Browse a library of 200+ electronic mail templates optimized for varied advertising objectives.
- Construct segments based mostly on subscribers’ onsite actions and the way they work together along with your newsletters.
- A/B check subject lines, pictures, publication layouts, and CTA buttons to optimize marketing campaign efficiency.
- Monitor key metrics and information factors like open charges, click-through charges, and click on maps in actual time.
Technical Help
Free customers don’t get any technical help. All paying clients obtain electronic mail and chat help, whereas Enterprise clients can entry telephone help. Chosen Max subscribers may attain out by way of Slack.
Free performance
The free GetResponse plan provides 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 contains entry to the platform’s touchdown web page builder, sign-up varieties, 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
Opinions
Finest for: Content material creators who want a fundamental publication software
ConvertKit doesn’t supply probably the most superior reporting or subtle segmentation. However in case you’re a content material creator who simply desires to ship electronic mail newsletters (whereas profiting from some neat viewers progress instruments), it’s a tremendous alternative.
Key options
- Create newsletters utilizing the straightforward, block-based visible electronic mail builder.
- Embed a number of content material sorts — together with tweets, movies, and merchandise — in your newsletters.
- Use tags and segments to arrange your publication subscribers from a single electronic mail checklist.
- Develop your viewers by way of ConvertKit’s built-in suggestions engine, or through the use of the platform’s touchdown web page and sign-up kind builders.
- Monetize your content material by charging a subscription charge or selling digital products like on-line programs and ebooks.
Technical Help
ConvertKit provides three completely different tiers of buyer help. Free customers must depend on group help, whereas paying clients get electronic mail and stay chat help. Creator Professional subscribers obtain precedence help.
Free performance
ConvertKit’s free plan contains as much as 1,000 subscribers and limitless electronic mail broadcasts, touchdown pages, and sign-up varieties.
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 obtainable on the free plan, similar to automated electronic mail sequences and the chance to develop your electronic mail checklist by way of paid promotions with different creators.
Select the most effective all-round publication software program
Naturally we’re biased, however we really imagine AWeber is the most effective publication software program for many use instances — particularly in case you’re a content material creator, coach, on-line market vendor, affiliate marketer, or small enterprise.
Our costs are inexpensive.
Our electronic mail creation instruments are easy to grasp, however with all the delicate options you’ll want to create beautiful, participating content material each time — suppose an AI-powered writing help, built-in Canva entry, and extra.
Our universal theme settings will let you change colours and fonts, add buttons and dividers, and rather more moreover — all from a single management.
Our signup varieties and touchdown pages provide help to construct a devoted viewers of people that can’t wait to your subsequent publication.
And that’s only for starters.
In fact, we don’t count on you to take our phrase for it.
See for yourself by signing up for a free account today!
