Starting with email marketing can be overwhelming, but choosing the right tools can make it much easier. Here are five great choices for beginners looking to dive into email marketing.
These tools are designed to be user-friendly and effective, helping you create beautiful emails and connect with your audience effortlessly.
Reasons for using an email marketing tool
Ease of Use: Email marketing tools simplify the process, making it easy for beginners to create and send emails without technical skills.
Time-Saving: Automate your email campaigns to save time and focus on other important tasks in your business.
Professional Design: Access to templates and design tools helps you create visually appealing emails that engage your audience.
Analytics: Track the performance of your emails with built-in analytics to understand what works and improve future campaigns.
Audience Segmentation: Easily segment your audience to send targeted emails, ensuring your message reaches the right people.
A quick look
Here are the top 5 email marketing tools for beginners:
Flodesk
MailerLite
ActiveCampaign
Drip
AWeber
Email marketing tools for beginners
1. Flodesk
Flodesk offers the most intuitive email marketing tools for small businesses, helping you grow and monetize your email list effortlessly. With no need for coding or design skills, you can create, send, and automate emails that engage your audience and drive revenue. Trusted by 100,000+ businesses around the world, Flodesk provides powerful features in a simple, easy-to-use platform. Best of all, our simple and affordable pricing means you’ll only pay for what you need.
Transparent, affordable pricing. Our plans are built to make powerful email marketing accessible for all—especially small businesses. Plus, you can try out Flodesk for free.
Beautiful Emails: Flodesk is the top choice for creating visually appealing emails that reflect a brand's unique style and identity.
Custom Fonts: Flodesk is the only platform that allows custom font uploads, enabling emails to match brand fonts perfectly.
Simple and Intuitive: Flodesk provides powerful features in a simple, easy-to-use interface without the complexity of outdated platforms.
Cons of using Flodesk
No SMS Notifications: Flodesk currently does not offer SMS notifications, focusing solely on email marketing to keep the platform streamlined and user-friendly.
Not for All Enterprises: Flodesk does not provide APIs or web hooks, which may limit enterprises that need to trigger automations from their own business logic or external systems.
Pricing
Flodesk is the only email marketing platform offering flat-rate pricing, charging $38 per month regardless of the number of emails sent.
Unlimited Emails and Workflow Automations: The platform provides unlimited emails and workflow automations with no hidden costs or additional fees.
Flat Rate, Big Savings: Flodesk’s price remains fixed at $38 per month, no matter the size of the list.
Reviews
Flodesk reviews highlight the platform's simplicity, user empowerment, and aesthetic appeal, with 77% of users giving it a 5-star rating. Users appreciate the straightforward interface and the ability to create visually appealing emails effortlessly.
Flodesk is incredibly intuitive and makes designing beautiful emails a breeze. The templates are stunning and easy to customize. - LucyParis P. (Rating: 5/5)
The simplicity and elegance of Flodesk's interface are unmatched. It has transformed the way I approach email marketing. - Sarah M. (Rating: 5/5)
2. MailerLite
MailerLite offers tools for email marketing, automations, landing pages, signup forms, websites, and selling digital products. It provides features like a drag & drop email editor, performance tracking, and integration with e-commerce platforms to help users manage their digital marketing efforts.
Pros of using MailerLite
Simple UI: MailerLite offers a straightforward user interface.
24/7 Support: Customer support is available around the clock.
Wide Integrations: Integrates with popular apps like Stripe and Shopify.
Cons of using MailerLite
Limited Advanced Features: While MailerLite offers a range of basic tools, it lacks some advanced features that more experienced marketers might need, such as complex automation workflows and advanced segmentation options.
Template Customization Limitations: Although MailerLite provides a variety of templates, the customization options are somewhat limited, which can restrict users looking to create highly personalized and unique email designs.
Pricing
MailerLite offers straightforward pricing plans to suit different business needs. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:
2,000 Subscribers: $20 per month
10,000 Subscribers: $58.40 per month
MailerLite's pricing packages include:
Free: $0
Growing Business: Starts at $10 per month
Advanced: Starts at $20 per month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Reviews
MailerLite reviews show a high user satisfaction with a 4.6/5 rating, praising its ease of use, affordability, and advanced email marketing tools, though some users note limitations in advanced features and template customization.
MailerLite is an important tool for my business. The features, performance, and ease of deployment are top-notch. - Jade C. J. (Rating: 4.6/5)
Great support, still lacking a few features. Easy to use, but needs more advanced options. - Valentín M. (Rating: 3/5)
3. ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign provides marketing automation, CRM, email marketing, and cross-channel campaign management tools. The platform uses artificial intelligence to automate tasks, optimize customer journeys, and offer analytics and reporting.
Pros of using ActiveCampaign
Reduces tedious marketing tasks: ActiveCampaign automates repetitive tasks, allowing users to focus on strategy.
AI-driven insights: The platform provides actionable insights to guide business growth.
Fast setup and launch: Users can get started quickly, reducing the time needed to launch campaigns.
Cons of using ActiveCampaign
Complexity for Beginners: ActiveCampaign's extensive features and advanced automation capabilities can be overwhelming for beginners. The platform's complexity may require a steep learning curve, making it less suitable for those new to email marketing.
Higher Cost for Advanced Features: While ActiveCampaign offers a range of powerful tools, accessing its more advanced features comes at a higher price point. This can be a drawback for small businesses or individuals looking for a cost-effective solution.
Pricing
ActiveCampaign offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:
2,000 Subscribers: $31.20 per month
10,000 Subscribers: $149 per month
ActiveCampaign's pricing packages include:
Starter
Plus
Pro
Enterprise
Reviews
ActiveCampaign reviews highlight its powerful automation and extensive integrations, with a 4.5/5 rating from 14,357 users. While praised for its AI-driven features and ease of use, some users find the platform's complexity and higher cost for advanced features frustrating.
ActiveCampaign offers a user-friendly interface and powerful automation features that make it a top choice for marketers. - Khaled B. (Rating: 4.5/5)
While ActiveCampaign has robust features, the learning curve can be steep for new users. - Sarah M. (Rating: 3/5)
4. Drip
Drip provides marketing automation services focused on email marketing, helping businesses automate their email campaigns and segment their audience. The platform offers tools for designing and sending emails, dynamic segmentation, and integration with ecommerce platforms.
Pros of using Drip
Highly rated: Drip has user ratings between 4.4 and 5 out of 5.
Dynamic segmentation: Drip's dynamic segmentation can lead to higher revenue.
Customer support: Drip offers quick and accessible customer service with a 97.3% satisfaction rate.
Cons of using Drip
Limited Advanced Features: Drip may not offer the advanced features that some experienced marketers require. While it provides essential tools for email marketing and automation, it lacks some of the more complex functionalities that can be found in other platforms.
Higher Cost for Large Lists: Drip's pricing can become quite expensive for businesses with large email lists. As your subscriber count grows, the cost of using Drip increases significantly, which may not be ideal for budget-conscious businesses.
Pricing
Drip offers flexible pricing plans based on the number of subscribers. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:
2,000 Subscribers: $39 per month
10,000 Subscribers: $154 per month
Additional pricing tiers include:
1-2,500 Subscribers: $39 per month
2,501-5,000 Subscribers: $89 per month
5,001-10,000 Subscribers: $154 per month
10,001-20,000 Subscribers: $289 per month
Reviews
Drip reviews show a 4.4/5 rating from 465 users, who appreciate its intuitive email builder and real-time segmentation, though some find the platform's advanced features lacking and costs high for large lists.
Easy to use automation tool with a clean interface and helpful customer support. - Paritosh C. (Rating: 4.0/5)
The platform is powerful but can be overwhelming for beginners. - Sarah M. (Rating: 3.0/5)
5. AWeber
AWeber provides email marketing and automation solutions for small businesses. Its services include tools for creating and sending emails, building landing pages, automating email campaigns, selling products online, and integrating with other business tools.
Pros of uising AWeber
Easy-to-use marketing solutions: AWeber offers tools that simplify email marketing for small businesses.
24/7 customer support: Users have access to support via phone, chat, or email at any time.
Integration capabilities: AWeber connects with over 750 tools, including PayPal, Shopify, and WordPress.
Cons of using AWeber
Strict Anti-Spam and Lead Import Policies: AWeber prohibits the use of purchased leads, co-registration services, or any pre-existing leads not directly obtained by the user. This means you cannot import email lists bought from third parties or use "safe lists." Only people who have specifically requested information from you may be emailed. This can be limiting for businesses that have acquired leads through other means or want to migrate large, older lists.
No Use of Scripts for Subscriber Addition: Scripting or automating the addition of subscribers to web forms is forbidden. The actual visitor must activate the subscription process. This limits automation flexibility for advanced users or developers who want to integrate AWeber with custom sign-up flows.
Pricing
AWeber offers straightforward pricing plans for different business needs. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:
2,000 Subscribers: $20 per month
10,000 Subscribers: $86 per month
AWeber's main pricing packages include:
Done For You: $20/month (billed annually) + $79 setup fee
Plus: $19.99/month (billed annually) for up to 500 subscribers
Lite: $12.49/month (billed annually) for up to 500 subscribers
Reviews
AWeber reviews show a 4.2/5 rating from 636 users, who appreciate its ease of use, automation features, and deliverability, though some express frustrations with its strict anti-spam policies and limitations on lead imports.
Better alternative for Sendinblue + Best for B2B Emails. - Nikhil S. (Rating: 4.5/5)
The interface is outdated and lacks some advanced features. - Sarah T. (Rating: 2.5/5)
What to consider when selecting an email marketing tool?
When selecting an email marketing tool, beginners should focus on the following key features:
Ease of Use: Look for a platform with an intuitive interface that simplifies the process of creating and sending emails without requiring technical skills.
Design Capabilities: Choose a tool that offers customizable templates and design options to create visually appealing emails that reflect your brand's identity.
Automation: Ensure the platform provides automation features to streamline your email campaigns, saving you time and effort.
Analytics: Opt for a tool with robust analytics to track the performance of your emails and gain insights to improve future campaigns.
Pricing: Consider the cost of the tool and whether it offers a pricing plan that fits your budget, especially if you are a small business or just starting out.
Which one should you go with?
Each of these email marketing tools offers unique features that can help you grow your business. However, if you're looking for a platform that combines simplicity, user empowerment, and aesthetic appeal, Flodesk stands out as a top choice.
With its intuitive interface and beautiful design options, Flodesk makes it easy to create stunning emails that reflect your brand's identity. Try it for free and see how Flodesk can transform your email marketing efforts.
Flodesk Team is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs and businesses to create stunning, effective emails. With expertise in email marketing, automation, and design, we’re here to share insights, tips, and strategies to help you grow your brand.