As we enter 2023, the competition among email marketing software providers is fiercer. Volar Academy has curated a list of this year’s six best email marketing software to help you make an informed decision and take your marketing efforts to the next level.

Best Overall: Mailchimp

Mailchimp continues to dominate the email marketing realm and rightly deserves the “Best Overall.” With its user-friendly interface, extensive feature set, and exceptional deliverability rates, Mailchimp remains a top choice for businesses of all sizes. Whether a startup or an established enterprise, Mailchimp provides a seamless experience, enabling you to create engaging email campaigns, manage your subscriber lists, and track performance effortlessly.

Pros:

• Free-forever plan is available for up to 500 contacts, making it ideal for small businesses and startups.
• User-friendly interface, allowing accessible building and customization of email campaigns without coding knowledge.
• Comprehensive reporting tools that provide valuable insights to optimize future email sends and improve engagement.
• Seamless integration with hundreds of software platforms, streamlining your marketing efforts and data management.

Cons:

• Becomes pricey for more extensive contact lists with more than 150,000 subscribers.
• Phone support is limited, which might be challenging for users.
• It may cater to something other than the needs of advanced marketing teams.

Best for Automation: ActiveCampaign

Regarding automation, ActiveCampaign is the best in the industry, driving engagement and conversions to new heights.

Pros:

• Excellent automation features for streamlined customer interactions.
• Responsive and supportive customer support.
• Data migration and implementation services are included in all plan levels.
• Extensive integration options with 870+ popular software.

Cons:

• The steeper learning curve for beginners.
• Limited features and ActiveCampaign branding in the Lite plan.
•  As the number of contacts increases, plans become expensive.

Easiest to Use: MailerLite

MailerLite is the perfect choice for beginners and small businesses. 

Pros:

• Offers a free plan for up to 1,000 contacts, which can be cost-effective for small businesses or individuals.
• Provides email support, allowing users to get assistance when needed.
• Offers a wide selection of email templates, saving time on email design and providing professional-looking options.

Cons:

• It doesn’t include CRM functionalities but allows integration with other CRM tools.
• Limited integrations with other third-party applications may restrict some users’ workflow.
• Requires users to provide a substantial amount of company information during the account setup process, which may be a potential privacy concern for some.

Best All-in-One Marketing Suite: HubSpot

For businesses seeking an all-encompassing marketing solution, HubSpot is the top choice. HubSpot’s integrated suite of marketing tools includes email marketing, CRM, and social media management, providing a holistic approach to your marketing endeavors.

Pros:

• Full marketing suite that includes CRM, social media management, blogging, and email marketing capabilities, providing a comprehensive solution for marketing needs.
• The email health tab feature helps users monitor and maintain deliverability rates, ensuring better email performance.
• Users only pay for the contacts they are marketing to, which can be cost-effective for businesses with varying contact lists.
• Robust lead tracking functionality allows businesses to monitor and nurture leads throughout their buying journey, improving conversion rates.
• HubSpot provides helpful online training resources, making it easier for users to get started and maximize the platform’s potential.

Cons:

• HubSpot does not offer a free-forever or low-cost plan.
• There may be better choices for businesses solely focused on email marketing, as HubSpot’s main strength lies in its comprehensive marketing suite.
• Integrating a separate CRM, such as Salesforce or Pipedrive, with HubSpot can be challenging and may require additional effort and technical expertise.
• HubSpot’s extensive features and capabilities can lead to a steep user learning curve.

Best Affordable Option: Moosend

For budget-conscious marketers, Moosend offers an outstanding combination of affordability and functionality. 

Pros 

•  Moonsend offers affordable pricing plans
• Option to pay only when you send emails
•  Templates customization is easy.

 Cons:

• Moonsend may have limitations in sending emails directly from personal email addresses like Gmail or Hotmail, which could be a drawback for individuals or small businesses relying on those accounts.
•  Some users might find the user interface less advanced or visually appealing compared to other email marketing platforms, potentially affecting the overall user experience.
• Limited integrations: Moonsend may have fewer integrations with other third-party tools or platforms, restricting the seamless connection.

Best for E-commerce: Drip

Drip enables businesses to deliver personalized and targeted messages to customers. 

Pros:

• Simple yet powerful drip campaigns
• Easy to set up and use
• Excellent customer support
• Sophisticated contact list segmentation

Cons:

• Lacks a few key integrations
• No drag-and-drop functionality for designing templates
•  limited support options

So, whether you prioritize overall usability, advanced automation, affordability, or e-commerce capabilities, the perfect email marketing software is waiting for you in the list above. Upgrade your digital marketing skills with Volar Academy’s email marketing certification course – Join us today!