As search engines and social media constantly change, one thing remains clear: businesses must control how they connect with their customers. One reliable way to do this is through email. It’s been around for a long time and still proves effective.
Today, email newsletter platforms can range from personal messages to large automated campaigns. The tools to create these newsletters also vary. Whether you’re sending out a few emails or running a big campaign, the right email newsletter tool makes it easy to send professional-looking messages to hundreds or even thousands of subscribers.
According to research, for every $1 you spend on email marketing, you can make an average of $36. Leading email newsletter platforms help us connect and interact with our audience, setting the standard in this lucrative field.
Choosing the right email newsletter platform can feel confusing because so many choices exist. In this guide, you’ll look at the 8 top email newsletter tools 2024, review their features, and help determine which suits you and your business best.
What is an email newsletter?
An email newsletter platform is a tool that helps businesses design, send, and manage email campaigns. These platforms come with features like editable templates, subscriber list management, email automation platforms, and performance tracking, allowing you to create engaging newsletters and monitor how they perform.
Email newsletters focus more on informing and entertaining your audience rather than selling. Receiving one should feel like getting advice from a helpful and interesting friend, not like a pushy salesperson trying to make a sale.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Email Newsletter Platform
Selecting the right email newsletter platform is crucial for your success. Here are the key factors you should carefully evaluate before making your decision:
A. Ease of usage: The platform should be simple, allowing you to create and manage campaigns smoothly, even if you’re not great with tech. Sendster offers a drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy to design attractive emails.
B. Options for customization: Your emails should represent your brand. Pick a platform that lets you edit templates or create designs from scratch. Sendster helps you maintain consistent and engaging email content.
C. Features associated with automation: Look for tools like autoresponders, drip campaigns, and emails triggered by user actions. Advanced segmentation lets you send targeted and relevant content. Sendster boosts productivity by automating tasks like scheduling emails and segmenting lists.
D. Ability to integrate: Your platform should work well with the tools you already use. Check if it’s compatible with your landing page builder, e-commerce platform, CRM, and other important apps. Using Sendster’s AI, you’ll notice higher email open rates and click-through rates.
E. Reports and data analysis: Good analytics help you track how your campaigns perform and make better decisions. Look for reports that cover open rates, click-throughs, bounce rates, and subscriber growth.
F. Support for clients: Even easy platforms might need support. Check the quality and availability of customer service. Sendster’s AI-powered tools can save time, boost open rates, and improve overall performance.
Best 8 Email Newsletter Platforms Compared
1. Sendster: The Rising Star
About the platform: Sendster is a beginner-friendly platform, perfect for small businesses looking for simple email marketing platforms. It quickly gained traction due to its user-friendly interface and powerful features.
Key features:
- Build emails with drag-and-drop.
- Subject line optimization using AI
- Advanced tools for segmentation
- Solid automated workflows
Pros of Sendster:
- Simple layout for first-timers
- Great customer support
- Affordable rates
Cons of Sendster:
- Fewer integration options than established players
- Newer platform, so fewer third-party resources are available
Pricing: Starts at $67/month for up to 5,000 subscribers.
Perfect for: Small companies and startups looking for an easy-to-use, affordable solution
2. Mailchimp: The Household Name
About the platform: Mailchimp is one of the most recognized names in email marketing, known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive feature set.
Key features:
- A wide variety of templates
- Integrated functionality for CRM.
- Potential for multi-channel marketing
- Complex reporting and analytics
Pros of Mailchimp:
- Simple for first-time users
- A broad range of integrations
- Comprehensive free plan.
Cons of Mailchimp:
- Can be costly as your list grows.
- Certain advanced features have a learning curve.
Pricing: Free plans are available and paid plans start at $20/month.
Perfect for: Medium-sized businesses to small ones looking for an all-in-one marketing platform
3. ConvertKit: The Creator’s Choice
About the platform: ConvertKit offers robust tools for audience segmentation and automation, making it ideal for bloggers, creators, and digital product sellers.
Key features:
- Built-in visual automation
- Forms for personalized opt-ins
- Creating landing pages
- Segments and subscriber tagging
Pros for ConvertKit:
- Great rates of deliverability
- Simple automation workflows
- Simple, modern email templates.
Cons for ConvertKit:
- Few options for design customization
- More expensive than some competitors.
Pricing: Starts at $29/month for up to 1,000 subscribers.
Perfect for: The content creators, bloggers, and online course creators
4. GetResponse: The Versatile Veteran
About the platform: GetResponse is a flexible choice for companies of any size because it offers a range of marketing tools in addition to email. It’s a full marketing platform with strong automation and CRM features.
Key features:
- The ability to host webinars
- Conversion funnels
- Tools for e-commerce.
- Modern workflows for automation
Pros of GetResponse:
- Complete marketing suite.
- Great value for your money.
- Potent abilities in automation
Cons of GetResponse:
- UI may be too complex for novice users.
- Small businesses may not need certain features.
Pricing: Starts at $19/month for up to 1,000 subscribers.
Perfect for: Expanding companies searching for a comprehensive marketing solution.
5. Sendy: The Self-Hosted Solution
About the platform: With Sendy, you can self-host your email marketing campaign and send emails using Amazon SES, making it an exceptional option.
Key features:
- One-time purchase model
- Low sending costs via Amazon SES
- Multi-brand management
- Basic features of automation
Pros of Sendy:
- Full control over your data
- No monthly fees
Cons of Sendy:
- Needs technical expertise to install and maintain
- Little client support
- Fewer features compared to SaaS options
Pricing: One-time fee of $69/month, plus Amazon SES costs
Perfect for: Tech-savvy businesses with large email lists looking to minimize costs.
6. MailerLite: The User-Friendly Challenger
About the platform: MailerLite provides a simple, no-nonsense way to do email marketing, making it easy to use. It’s a popular choice for small businesses, focusing on being affordable.
Key features:
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.
- Landing page and pop-up creators
- Workflows for basic automation
Pros of MailerLite:
- Very user-friendly interface
- Affordable pricing
- Good deliverability rates
Cons of MailerLite:
- Limited advanced features
- Basic reporting capabilities
Pricing: Available is a free plan, and paid options begin at $10 per month.
Perfect for: The Beginners and small businesses looking for a simple, affordable solution.
7. HubSpot: The Enterprise Powerhouse
About the platform: HubSpot offers a comprehensive marketing suite, with email marketing just one of many tools. It’s an all-in-one platform for marketing, sales, and customer service.
Key features:
- Complete integration with CRM
- Options for advanced personalization
- Capacity for A/B testing
Pros of HubSpot:
- Effective all-in-one marketing system
- Great support for customers
- Solid framework for integration
Cons of HubSpot:
- May be costly for small companies.
- A steep learning curve to fully utilize
Pricing: Email marketing tools are included in Marketing Hub, starting at $890/month.
Perfect for: Large to medium-sized companies seeking a full-service marketing and sales solution.
8. Mailjet: The Developer-Friendly Option
About the platform: Mailjet is a good email service provider that caters to both marketers and developers, offering a robust API and advanced features for transactional and marketing emails.
Key features:
- Advanced Developer’s API
- Analyses in real-time
- Collaboration tools for team workflows
- Compliance features of the GDPR
Pros of Mailjet:
- Ideal for both transactional and marketing emails.
- Strong API documentation and support
Cons of Mailjet:
- Fewer automation features than some competitors.
- Compared to some other platforms, there are fewer pre-built integrations.
Pricing: The free plan is available for up to 6,000 emails/month; paid plans start at $17/month for 15,000 emails.
Perfect for: Businesses with development teams, SaaS companies, and those needing a strong API for transactional and marketing emails.
Table of Comparisons for Email Newsletter Software
Platform | Best For | Starting Price | Automation | Key Features |
Sendster | Small businesses | $67/month | Basic | Basic automation, templates |
Mailchimp | Small to medium businesses | $20/month | Advanced | Segmentation, A/B testing |
ConvertKit | Creators and bloggers | $29/month | Intermediate | Automation, integrations |
GetResponse | Businesses with complex needs | $19/month | Advanced | CRM tools, webinars |
Sendy | Large lists, cost- conscious | $69/month | Basic | Low-cost email delivery |
MailerLite | Startups and small businesses | $10/month | Basic | Customizable templates, automation |
HubSpot | Growing businesses | $890/month | Advanced | Full marketing suite, CRM integration |
Mailjet | Teams and agencies | $17/month | Basic | Collaboration, deliverability tracking |
The Best Platform to Select according to Your Needs
To select the best email newsletter platform for your business, consider the following factors:
A. Assess the needs of your company:
Determine your specific needs, such as the size of your email list, the complexity of your campaigns, and your budget. Understand your audience and what they prefer, and make sure the platform can grow with you. Sendster offers benefits like time-saving, better email delivery, and a higher return on investment (ROI).
B. Think about your skill set:
Think about your team’s technical abilities and how much support you might need. Look at how easy or difficult each platform is to learn and how much time you can spend hours mastering it. Sendster helps with tracking and reporting email performance in detail.
C. Review your finances:
Check the pricing plans of different platforms to find one that matches your budget. Think about long-term costs as your subscriber list expands. Weigh the potential returns of pricier platforms with advanced tools.
D. Analyze the quality of templates and design options:
Look at the available email templates and how customizable they are. Ensure the templates are mobile-friendly. Consider how easily you can keep your brand’s look. A simple drag-and-drop editor is provided by Sendster to help users create eye-catching emails.
E. Consider the platform’s updates:
Look into the company’s product roadmap and recent feature releases. Assess how frequently the platform is updated and improved. Consider the long-term viability and market position of the email service provider.
Tips for a Successful Email Newsletter Campaign
📌Build and organize your email list: Gather high-quality email addresses and group your audience by interests or demographics. Sendster helps by keeping your email lists clean and removing invalid addresses.
📌Create helpful content: Provide real value to your subscribers to keep them engaged.
📌Write catchy subject lines: Create attention-grabbing subject lines that make people want to open your emails. Sendster helps provide relevant, informative, and valuable content for your audience.
📌Optimize for mobile: With 81% of emails opened on mobile devices, it’s important to have a design that works well on smartphones. Sendster ensures your newsletters look great on mobile for the growing number of mobile users.
📌Implement A/B testing: Continuously test and refine your email elements for better performance.
Conclusion
And there you have it – the top email newsletter platforms for various business needs.
Picking the right email platform can make a big difference in how successful your marketing is. Whether you’re running a small startup, an expanding online store, or a big company, there’s a tool made just for you.
Think about your business needs, budget, and future plans when choosing. Sendster might be a perfect fit. For our small business, Sendster AI has been a real game-changer. It helped us write more engaging emails, and the insights from the analytics helped us understand our audience better.
In the end, the best platform is the one that fits your goals and helps you connect with your audience in a meaningful way. Start or improve your email marketing for small businesses today—you’ll be glad you did, as this is one of the most powerful marketing channels out there!
FAQs: Best Email Newsletter Platforms
Q. Regarding email newsletter platforms, which one is the best?
Ans: Sendster and Mailchimp offer strong free plans for beginners and small businesses.
Q: Can I easily change email newsletter platforms?
Ans: Yes, most platforms allow you to import subscribers and templates. However, you may need to recreate complex automation workflows.
Q. How frequently should you send newsletters?
Ans: It depends on your audience and what you share, but sending once or twice a month is a good place to start. Always focus on quality over quantity. Sendster helps you focus on the campaigns that deliver the best results.
Q. For an email newsletter, how long should it be?
Ans: Aim for 200-500 words. Concise, valuable content tends to perform better than lengthy newsletters. Sendster ensures consistent and engaging email copy.
Q. How can my email open rates be increased?
Ans: Work on writing great subject lines, segmenting your audience, picking the best times to send, and regularly cleaning your email list to remove inactive users. Sendster tracks important metrics like open rates, clicks, and conversions.