Top 7 Email Marketing Platforms for Small Businesses

To all the small business owners out there, if you want to elevate your business, then e-mail marketing is the VIP ticket to your goal—don’t hit snooze on this game changer. 

With the potential to provide a high return on investment, e-mail marketing is not just a convenience but a necessity for small business growth.

Due to the sheer multitude of options available, seeking the right e-mail marketing platform can often be a daunting task. We have expertly handpicked the top 7 email marketing platforms tailored to small businesses, guaranteeing a significant improvement in your marketing strategies.

Whether you’re looking to build stronger customer relationships, increase sales, or simply streamline your marketing efforts, there’s an e-mail marketing platform just right for you. 

Table of Contents 

  • What to Consider When Choosing an E-mail Marketing Platform?
  • Top 7 E-mail Marketing Platforms for Small Businesses 
  • 1. Mailchimp- Drive Conversions with Creative E-mails
  • 2. Constant Connect– Where E-mail Marketing Finds its Creative Canva 
  • 3. GetResponse–Where Growth Meets No Bounds and Budgets Bow Down
  • 4. Omnisend–Where Every Email Speaks Your Brand’s Language
  • 5. AWeber–Where Your Emails Sing Success in Every Inbox
  • 6. MailerLite– Design Effortless and Automated E-mails
  • 7.  Brevo– Elevate Your Emails, Craft Excellence in Every Click!
  • Choose your E-mail Marketing Platform Today

What to Consider When Choosing an E-mail Marketing Platform?

When aspiring for the perfect email marketing platform, savvy small business owners have a few crucial considerations on their radar.

What to Consider When Choosing an E-mail Marketing Platform?

✅ Your Business Needs: Start by evaluating your specific needs. Are you an e-commerce business, a service provider, or a content creator? Your business type and goals will influence the features you require.

Cost Efficiency: Value for money is the name of the game. Does the platform fit your budget while delivering the bells and whistles your business demands? Does it offer free trials to allow you to try out services? 

Ease of Use: Your platform should be as easy as sending a text! Does it offer an intuitive interface that your team can quickly learn and navigate?

Email Templates: Does the platform offer a range of professionally designed email templates? Customizability is a bonus if you have a specific brand style.

List Management: Efficiently managing your email list is vital. Does the software allow easy import/export, list segmentation, and suppression lists for unsubscribed users?

Delivery Rate: Does the platform have a good email deliverability rate? Your emails need to reach the inbox, not the spam folder.

Analytics and Reporting: Comprehensive analytics can help you track the success of your campaigns. Are there features like open rates, click-through rates, conversion tracking, and A/B testing? 

Customer Support: Reliable customer support is essential. When issues arise, will it prompt assistance to keep your campaigns running smoothly?

Scalability: Consider your future growth. Will the platform still meet your needs as your subscriber list and email campaigns expand?

Security: Protecting your data and your subscribers’ information is critical. Does the platform have robust security measures in place?

For beginners, it’s best to choose platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, etc., as they offer free plans and easy-to-drag-and-drop e-mail builders, and are user-friendly.

But if you are already familiar with e-mail marketing then you can check out AWeber, Adobe Campaign, etc. since they are powerful, all-in-one marketing platforms with advanced automation, analytics, and CRM integration. 

Top 7 E-mail Marketing Platforms for Small Businesses 

Discover the top 7 email marketing platforms tailored for small businesses. I’ll guide you through their pricing structures, available templates, notable pros and cons, and insights from customer reviews on popular platforms like G2, Capterra, and more.

Mailchimp- Drive Conversions with Creative E-mails

Mailchimp is your marketing sidekick! Packed with awesome tools, it’s a go-to for small business champs looking to boost their brand and bond with their fans.

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Pricing

Mailchimp provides multiple pricing plans to cater to different business needs. Here’s a brief idea of the plans available: 

  • Free Plan: Suitable for beginners, allows up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends per month with ads.
  • Essentials Plan: Starts at $13 per month for 500 contacts, offering additional features like email and chat support.
  • Standard Plan: Begins at $20 per month for 500 contacts, providing advanced analytics, A/B testing, and more.
  • Premium Plan: Tailored pricing based on specific needs, ideal for high-volume senders or those requiring additional features.
  • Custom Plans: Designed for businesses with larger needs, with pricing based on the scale and requirements of the organization.

For businesses with over 10,000 contacts, the pricing starts at $350 per month.

Templates Available

Mailchimp provides over 100 professional and customizable email marketing and email newsletter templates. These templates cover various themes and purposes, ensuring there’s a template suitable for different types of campaigns. Feel free to explore them right here

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Mailchimp is known for its intuitive and easy-to-use platform, suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
  • Offers a great template editor with a clean interface, simplifying email design
  • Provides comprehensive reporting tools, offering insights into campaign performance
  • Allows multiple integration options with various online platforms
  • Users can import their email templates for a personalized touch

Cons:

  • Considered to have a steep pricing structure, which might be a drawback for some users
  • Charges for unsubscribed and inactive users, which some users find peculiar
  • Some users report a lack of robust customer support as a drawback

Customer Reviews

Here are reviews of Mailchimp from various platforms:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.3/5
    • Praises: Easy to use, strong automation features.
  • Capterra:
    • Average Rating: 4.4/5
    • Highlights: User-friendly interface, effective email campaign management.
  • Trustpilot:
    • Rating: 3.9/5
    • Strengths: Templates, analytics; concerns about pricing.

Constant Connect– Where E-mail Marketing Finds its Creative Canva 

Constant Contact isn’t just software; it’s your secret weapon for conquering the email marketing realm. 

Designed with love for small businesses, it’s like having a powerhouse at your fingertips, amplifying your reach and making every email a high-five to your audience. This platform’s got tricks up its sleeve to make your campaigns stand out and connect with your audience like never before!

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Pricing Plan

Constant Contact offers various pricing plans to cater to different business needs:

  • Lite Plan:
    • Ideal for small businesses (up to 500 contacts).
    • Starting at $12 per month for essential email marketing features.
  • Standard Plan:
    • Priced at $35 per month (up to 500 contacts).
    • Offers automation and customization to enhance email marketing.
  • Premium Plan:
    • Geared towards businesses with advanced needs (up to 500 contacts).
    • Costs $80 per month, and includes advanced automation and support.
  • Higher Tiers:
    • More extensive features and capacities are available.
    • Pricing goes up to $449 per month.
  • Additional Assistance:
    • Provided for users with a large contact list.

Constant Contact’s pricing is tiered based on the number of contacts you have and the features you require.

Templates Available

Constant Contact provides access to over 200 professionally designed and mobile-responsive email templates, enabling businesses to choose styles that align with their brand and message.  Dive into them by clicking here.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Users can send unlimited emails and pay based on the list size
  • Known for a clean and straightforward user interface
  • Easy integration with social media platforms
  • Provides real-time tracking and reporting for campaigns
  • Offers excellent 24/7 customer support

Cons:

  • Contacts with the same email address are merged into one contact, causing inconvenience
  • Constraints on automation capabilities
  • Some users find it difficult to cancel their accounts

Customer Reviews

Here are reviews of Constant Contact from various platforms:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.0/5
    • Praises: User-friendly interface, drag-and-drop features, data-rich capabilities, integration with tools like Canva.
  • GetApp:
    • Average Rating: 4.3/5
    • Positives: Effective in increasing customers and sales.
    • Concerns: Some users mention issues with the user interface.
  1. GetResponse–Where Growth Meets No Bounds and Budgets Bow Down

Ready to take your small business to the next level? GetResponse is the answer! Say goodbye to pricing surprises – as your contact list grows, their rates stay fair and predictable.

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Pricing

GetResponse offers various pricing plans tailored to different business needs. The pricing is based on the number of subscribers you have.

  • Basic Plan:
    • Starting at $13.30 per month.
    • Ideal for beginners and small businesses.
    • Includes email marketing, AI website builder, and landing pages.
  • Plus Plan:
    • Priced at $49 per month (1,000 subscribers).
    • Automation builder, webinars (up to 100 attendees), and contact scoring.
  • Professional Plan:
    • Costs $99 per month (1,000 subscribers).
    • Includes Plus plan features, webinars (up to 300 attendees), paid webinars, and on-demand webinars.
  • Max Plan:
    • Tailored for marketing pros and large enterprises.
    • Priced at $119 per month (1,000 subscribers).
    • Offers all Professional plan features with enhanced support and deliverability.
  • Free Plan:
    • Limited features and cost varies based on subscribers and the chosen plan.

Templates Available

GetResponse offers a variety of email marketing templates, with over 150 free newsletters and email templates available. You can check them out here. These templates cover a wide range of designs and styles to cater to different needs and preferences. You can easily customize these templates to suit your brand and message using GetResponse’s email creator and free email builder templates.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Automation builders, conversion funnels, and website builders for effective email marketing.
  • Intuitive interface is suitable for beginners.
  • Covers campaign management to engaging newsletters.
  • Extensive features in plans are seen as a good investment.

Cons:

  • Some find it clunky and hard to navigate.
  • Navigation to specific features can be cumbersome, especially for newcomers.
  •  Pricing can become an issue as the subscriber count grows for small businesses.

Customer Reviews

Here are reviews of GetResponse from various platforms:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.2/5
    • Praises: User-friendly interface, great features, excellent support, strong integration capabilities.
  • Capterra:
    • Average Rating: 4.2/5
    • Strengths: Powerful, versatile newsletter tool, good value for features.
  • Trustpilot:
    • Rating: 3.7/5
    • Feedback: Some users find the user interface challenging, mentioning it’s clunky and difficult to navigate.

Omnisend–Where Every Email Speaks Your Brand’s Language

Omnisend is an email marketing and SMS platform that offers a range of features beneficial for small business owners. The platform provides options for email marketing activities, making it an excellent tool to engage with customers and drive conversions. 

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Pricing

  • Free Plan:
    • Access to all features.
    • Up to 500 emails per month.
  • Paid Plans:
    • Start at $16 per month (6,000 emails).
    • Scale based on contact count and service level.
  • Cost-Effectiveness:
    • Compared to alternatives, it’s 67% cheaper.

Templates Available

Omnisend provides a range of templates for e-mail marketing, including email templates tailored for e-commerce purposes. They offer free and customizable email newsletter templates to enhance email marketing campaigns. Peruse them by following this link

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Automation, email campaigns, segmentation, and SMS marketing.
  • Easy campaign creation and management.
  • Boosts productivity and engagement with powerful automation.
  • Seamless integration with e-commerce platforms for enhanced marketing.
  • Tailor emails and campaigns for a personalized connection.
  • Quick assistance for optimal platform usage.

Cons:

  • Occasional issues with speed and bugs affecting user experience.
  • Lack of comprehensive support in specific scenarios despite responsiveness.
  • Potential learning challenges, especially for newcomers to email marketing automation.

Customer Reviews

Here are reviews of Omnisend from various platforms:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.5/5
    • Praises: Contemporary email marketing capabilities, competitive choice.
  • Capterra:
    • Average Rating: 4.7/5
    • Suitable for small and medium-sized businesses’ marketing needs.
  • Trustpilot:
    • Rating: 4.7/5
    • Strengths: Excellent for email marketing and SMS, easy to use, positive impact on sales.

AWeber–Where Your Emails Sing Success in Every Inbox

AWeber is an ideal choice for small businesses seeking an intuitive, cost-effective, and feature-rich email marketing platform to enhance their marketing efforts.

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Pricing

  • Pricing Structure:
    • Competitive pricing based on subscriber count.
  • Examples:
    • Up to 500 subscribers: $19.99 per month.
    • Up to 2,500 subscribers: $29.99 per month.
    • Up to 5,000 subscribers: $49.99 per month.
  • Annual Billing:
    • Discounted rate at $149.99 per year (equivalent to approximately $12.50 per month) with two months free.
  • Free Plan:
    • Industry-leading tools available at no cost, are beneficial for email marketing beginners or small subscriber base.

Templates Available

AWeber provides a range of email marketing templates to enhance your campaigns. These include Professional Email Marketing templates, Custom Email Marketing templates, Pre-written Automated Email Campaigns, Email Marketing Planning templates, Free Email templates, and Specialized templates like newsletters, daily deals, notifications, and more to cater to various email marketing needs. You can check them out here.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Known for its intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it suitable for beginners.
  • The drag-and-drop email editor facilitates the creation of visually appealing emails quickly.
  • Integrates with numerous third-party apps and tools, enhancing its functionality and adaptability.
  • Offers automation features that can streamline and optimize email campaigns.

 Cons:

  • While AWeber offers a free plan and affordable options, scaling up can become costly as subscriber numbers increase.
  • The variety and customization options of email templates are relatively limited compared to some competitors.
  • Mastering advanced features may require time and learning, potentially challenging for users with minimal technical expertise.

Customer Reviews

 Here are concise reviews from various platforms for AWeber:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.2/5
    • Praises: Easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder, excellent customization options.
  • Capterra:
    • Average Rating: 4.4/5
    • Highlights: Exceptional user-friendliness, visually appealing emails with drag-and-drop editor.
  • TrustRadius:
    • Rating: 7.4/10
    • Strengths: Efficacy for users with light coding knowledge, supports extensive campaigns based on user behavior.

MailerLite– Design Effortless and Automated E-mails

Step into the world of MailerLite, where the art of email marketing transforms into a vibrant, interactive experience. Feel the pulse of this comprehensive digital marketing platform as it reshapes the way businesses connect with their audience. 

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Pricing

MailerLite offers transparent and affordable pricing plans tailored to meet the needs of businesses of various sizes. Here’s a breakdown of their pricing:

  • Free Plan:
    • Up to 12,000 monthly emails for 1,000 subscribers.
  • Paid Plans:
    • $10 per month: Up to 1,000 subscribers, unlimited emails.
    • $15 per month: 1,001 to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited emails.
    • Custom pricing for more than 2,500 subscribers.
  • Additional Costs:
    • Dedicated IP: $50 per month.
    • Discounts: 30% off on annual subscription.

MailerLite offers transparent and scalable pricing, allowing businesses to tailor their email marketing efforts based on their subscriber count and additional needs.

Templates Available

MailerLite offers a variety of templates for email marketing, including templates for Newsletters, Websites, and Landing Pages. Check them out here

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

  • User-friendly drag-and-drop editor is suitable for all skill levels.
  • Free plans with limitations and scalable paid plans at reasonable prices for small businesses.
  • Diverse templates for visually appealing emails, no advanced design skills needed.
  • Automated email campaigns and audience segmentation for enhanced engagement and conversions.
  • Integration with third-party apps for streamlined workflows and added functionalities.

Cons:

  • The free version restricts the number of emails sent per month, which may be limiting for businesses with a growing subscriber base.
  • While MailerLite provides reporting and analytics options, some users find them to be basic and lacking in-depth insights needed for advanced campaign analysis.
  • The A/B testing options for emails and landing pages are not as extensive as some other platforms, limiting optimization capabilities.

Customer Reviews

Here are reviews of MailerLite from various platforms:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.7/5
    • Praises: User-friendly interface, customization options, excellent customer support.
  • Capterra:
    • Average Rating: 4.7/5
    • Strengths: Ease of use, customizable templates, affordability.
  • Trustpilot:
    • Rating: 4.6/5
    • Positives: Simplicity, email automation features, cost-effectiveness.

Brevo– Elevate Your Emails, Craft Excellence in Every Click!

Brevo is an email marketing and digital automation solution for small and medium-sized businesses.

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Pricing

Brevo offers flexible pricing options tailored to various business needs. The pricing structure primarily depends on the number of emails you intend to send per month and the number of subscribers in your list. Here is an overview of their pricing:

  • Free Plan:
    • Up to 300 emails per day to unlimited subscribers for free.
  • Lite Plan:
    • Starts at $25 per month.
    • Up to 40,000 emails per month.
  • Essential Plan:
    • Starts at $39 per month.
    • Up to 60,000 emails per month.
  • Premium Plan:
    • Starts at $66 per month.
    • Includes marketing automation.
    • Up to 120,000 emails per month.
  • Enterprise Plan:
    • Custom pricing for high-volume senders.
    • Tailored solutions based on specific needs.

Templates Available

The templates offered by Brevo can be exported to the featured email service provider (ESP) in just two clicks and remain editable after export, providing flexibility in customization. See them firsthand right here

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Acclaimed for its cost-effectiveness, making it an ideal choice for small and medium-sized businesses.
  •  Employs advanced automation features, streamlining the management of marketing campaigns and conserving valuable time and resources.
  • Acknowledged for its reliability and visually captivating design, enhancing the email marketing experience.
  •  Encompasses a diverse array of features such as contact management, campaign creation, email template design, and more, effectively catering to a spectrum of marketing requirements.

Cons:

  • The free plan has limitations on the number of emails you can send per day, potentially restrictive for high-volume users.
  • Some users might find the interface initially challenging to navigate, requiring a learning curve. 

Customer Reviews

Here are reviews of Brevo from various platforms:

  • G2:
    • Average Rating: 4.5/5
    • Praises: Ease of use, customer support, robust email marketing features.
  • Capterra:
    • Average Rating: 4.5/5
    • Strengths: Affordability, automation capabilities, excellent functionality.
  • Trustpilot:
    • Rating: 4.2/5
    • Positives: Features, email deliverability, cost-effectiveness.

Choose your E-mail Marketing Platform Today

To propel your business to unparalleled heights, I wholeheartedly extend an invitation for you to delve into the vast realm of email marketing platforms. The potential for transformative growth and connection with your audience awaits, and it all begins with this crucial step. Here, the power to connect with your audience is just a click away, waiting for you to seize it. As we navigate this digital landscape, we’ve carefully curated the top 7 options, each a potential game-changer for small businesses. 

Selecting a perfect e-mail marketing companion is not just a choice; it’s a quest for an ideal match. The one that resonates with your vision, audience, and financial plan. Imagine the impact – smoother workflows, happier customers, and a thriving business.

But the adventure doesn’t end with choosing. No, it’s a dynamic journey. We implore you to immerse yourself in these platforms. Feel their capabilities, witness their magic. It’s a testing ground, a playground for your creativity. See how they seamlessly weave into your existing systems, enhancing your marketing world.

Like explorers in an ever-changing land, things in the world of email marketing are always shifting. We urge you to keep exploring. Email marketing is always changing. Stay updated, adjust, and let your plans change too to make the most of what’s out there.