We all love having multiple email marketing tools, right? I mean, there’s no denying that having the option to engage with potential customers through different platforms is something of a game-changer.
Whether you have a long list of preferred email marketing tools or just one that you really love, it’s important to keep in mind the differences between the various services so you can make the right choice for your business.
Here’s what you need to know:
The Differences In Email Tools
The lines between these tools can be blurry. After all, many of the biggest names in email marketing grew out of a shared passion for simplifying repetitive tasks and making the process of marketing to people easier. (You can learn more about the history of email marketing on HubSpot’s blog.)
That said, there are some significant differences between the various email marketing tools.
- AWeber vs MailChimp vs Campaigner Vs Drip
- ActiveDEMO vs MailChimp vs ClickFunnels
- Benchmark vs Smart Messaging vs AWeber
- Dynamics vs HubSpot vs Marketo vs Salesforce Marketing Cloud
- Autopilot vs Mailchimp vs Marketo vs HubSpot
Let’s take a closer look at each of these tools and their unique features so you can choose the one that’s right for you.
AWeber
AWeber is one of the most well-known email marketing tools around. In fact, it’s been around long enough that it was among the first tools to emerge from the webinar that became the “email marketing conference.”
It’s available in two different versions: a free version that allows up to 12,000 subscribers and a paid version that allows up to 30,000 subscribers. (You can also try their Pro version for free for 15 days before you decide to pay for it.)
AWeber prides itself on its versatility and how easy it is to use, even if you have no experience in marketing. (You can also read a recent review of AWeber to get an idea of what others think about the product’s ease of use.)
This tool is particularly helpful for small businesses who want to keep their costs low while still having a presence on the web. (No big marketing budget? No problem. You can try their free version and see how they work before you commit. Plus, their team is available to help you at all times via live chat and email support.)
MailChimp
MailChimp is another extremely popular email marketing tool used by brands and businesses of all sizes. (It’s the tool my company, BizEaze, uses to send out our weekly newsletter.)
You get a free account with MailChimp if you have a limited number of subscribed email addresses. Otherwise, you have to pay $15 a month (or $150 a year).
MailChimp is best known for its user-friendly designs and how simple it is to set up email campaigns in a snap. (You can even use their free version to try it out and see how easy it is to use.)
This is the preferred tool of many entrepreneurs, freelancers, and bloggers who want to quickly set up a quick email marketing campaign without needing any prior experience. (It would be impossible to keep up with the demand if it weren’t for MailChimp’s convenient monthly fee. So, if you’re looking for a tool to quickly get started with, MailChimp is the go-to choice.)
Campaigner
Campaigner is one of the newer entrants to the email marketing field but has already proven itself to be a versatile tool that can satisfy a variety of needs. (Our company, Earnest Sewing, uses it to send out our weekly email update on the latest trends in fashion and lifestyle.)
You can try their free version for up to 500 subscribers and up to 2,000 unique visitors per month. (That’s pretty decent volume for a free tool. But if you want to get started, you’ll need to pay a $5 monthly fee.)
Campaigner was designed to make it easier for marketers to track and analyze email campaign performance, creating a central place for all the stats. (You can also integrate your Salesforce CRM if you use that tool for customer relationship management.)
This is a solid choice for businesses who want to get serious about their email marketing and don’t mind spending a little money to get there. (If price is no object, go with this option since you’re getting loads of features for your money’s worth.)
Drip
Drip is the absolute simplest and most versatile of the lot. You get a free account with Drip if you have a limited number of email addresses you want to use (up to 6,000) and want to send out regular emails to your audience. (You can also try their Pro version for free for 30 days before you decide to pay for it.)
Drip is basically just a simple email list manager. You can add all your email addresses (up to 6,000 at no cost), create email campaigns, and track the results of your efforts. (No need to hunt down individual email addresses or give them out yourself. Simply create a list and start sending out monthly emails to your audience.)
The best part about this tool is how customizable it is. You can choose from a variety of colorful templates or create your own to suit your precise needs. (It’s a one-stop shop for all your email marketing needs. If you use Google Chrome, you can access their extensive documentation to help you get the most out of this tool.)
ActiveDEMO
If you’re looking for a fully-featured, robust email marketing application with loads of functionality, you’d probably want to check out ActiveDEMO.
This tool is best for businesses who want to get more out of their Marketing Cloud implementation and take their email marketing strategy to the next level. (If you use Marketing Cloud, you already have everything you need to take your email marketing to the next level. And guess what? You can try their free version for 30 days to see how they work before you decide to pay for it.)
This is the preferred choice of many companies who want to track individual user activity (e.g., opens, clicks, and unsubscribes) and segment their email lists. (You can use the segments you’ve created to send out targeted marketing emails.)
Smart Messaging
If you think that email marketing is just about sending out a few emails to your customers and hoping they stick around, think again. (You can read an in-depth review of Smart Messaging to learn more about what this tool has to offer.)
Smart Messaging is the perfect tool if you have a large and loyal audience who want to keep up with the latest news and information. (If that’s the case, you might want to consider investing in this tool since it can easily scale to meet your needs.)
This email tool is also great for SEO since you can easily create rich content and engage with your audience using various social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn).
Benchmark
If you want to track the performance of your marketing campaigns and are looking for an all-in-one solution, you might want to check out Benchmark.
This tool can analyze the performance of all your marketing and advertising efforts including email, social media, and online advertising to give you the best shot at improving your results. (You can also get a free trial of their reporting platform to see how their software works before you decide to pay for it.)
This tool sets itself apart from the rest by virtue of its team of data scientists who work behind the scenes to provide you with the absolute best performance from your marketing efforts.
HubSpot
HubSpot is the clear choice for businesses who want to get serious about their marketing and are looking for a single tool to help manage all their various email lists and campaigns. (It’s my company’s preferred choice for marketing automation.)
This is the preferred choice of many digital marketers and entrepreneurs who want to get the most out of their Marketing Cloud implementation. (You can create unlimited email campaigns and tracking variables to help you get the most out of this tool.)