9 Best newsletter software tools (and how to choose)

By Phil Norris January 23, 2024

Sending electronic mail newsletters is widely known as one of the efficient methods to achieve, have interaction, and convert your viewers, with over 90% of marketing professionals describing electronic mail advertising and marketing as at the least considerably crucial to enterprise success.

So it’s no shock that the overwhelming majority of manufacturers ship electronic mail campaigns at least once per week:

To maintain your viewers engaged and make your content material memorable, it is advisable to select a e-newsletter software program device that makes it straightforward to design lovely, high-engagement emails that land the place you need them to: in the primary inbox.

However with lots of of e-newsletter platforms to select from, it’s exhausting to know the place to begin.

That’s why we’ve completed the analysis for you and compiled our record of the 9 finest e-newsletter software program platforms, highlighting their:

• Consumer critiques
• Key options
• Free performance
• Technical help
• Pricing

And we’ve even supplied sensible ideas for selecting your supreme e-newsletter software program device.

Let’s get into it…

How to decide on one of the best electronic mail e-newsletter software program: What to search for

The general finest electronic mail e-newsletter platform for you will naturally rely by yourself particular necessities. However the overwhelming majority of content material creators, coaches, on-line market sellers, and small companies ought to prioritize instruments that supply the next options:

Excessive electronic mail deliverability

Whenever you ship emails to your pals, household, and colleagues out of your private or enterprise account, you’ll be able to really feel fairly assured they’ll attain their supposed vacation spot.

It’s because you’ve received a historical past of back-and-forth conversations.

However this might not be the case whenever you’re sending your e-newsletter, so that you’ll positively need a device that permits excessive electronic mail deliverability.

Many e-newsletter software program platforms shout about their sky-high electronic mail supply, however that doesn’t assure your newsletters will really be seen.

Why?

As a result of electronic mail supply isn’t the identical as electronic mail deliverability; these six additional letters make an entire world of distinction:

• E-mail supply is whether or not the receiving mail server accepted the e-mail and delivered it to the mailbox, no matter which folder it lands in.
• E-mail deliverability is whether or not the e-mail is positioned within the recipient’s major inbox.

In different phrases, even when a device claims a 99.9% supply fee, your newsletters may nonetheless find yourself in spam, promotions, updates, or another folder that by no means will get checked.

So don’t be swayed by flashy-sounding supply statistics; discover out what they’ll do to maximise your email deliverability.

For example:

• Do they require a confirmed opt-in electronic mail? This straightforward affirmation helps stop folks from receiving unsolicited newsletters.
• Do they permit folks utilizing their platform to import a bought electronic mail record? It is a main crimson flag that they permit spam to be despatched from their e-newsletter platform.
• Do they adhere to ISP (Internet Service Provider) standards for managing and sending opt-in electronic mail?

These are just some of the proactive measures that assist e-newsletter platforms obtain sturdy deliverability.

Attempt-before-you-buy capabilities

Finally, one of the simplest ways to grasp if a platform is best for you is to learn the critiques and  suggestions, be certain that it’s received all the best options, then attempt it your self.

For that cause, you need to search for e-newsletter software program instruments that supply a very free plan, not only a limited-time free trial, so you’ll be able to navigate the assorted options and see if it’s a superb match.

A 14-day trial simply isn’t sufficient to essentially become familiar with a platform.

Straightforward-to-use electronic mail builder

Ideally, you don’t wish to pay builders to code your emails and graphic designers to make them look good — you wish to do it your self (even should you don’t have a ton of technical abilities).

So we suggest prioritizing platforms with user-friendly electronic mail builders, like a drop-and-drop editor for including and arranging your design.

Constructed-in monetization

Not all electronic mail instruments have built-in ecommerce performance.

It is a key consideration, as a result of most individuals don’t begin electronic mail newsletters for the sake of it — they do it to become profitable, whether or not by means of…

…or another tactic.

No matter your monetization technique, be certain that your chosen e-newsletter platform helps it.

Time-saving content material creation instruments

Not everyone seems to be a pure born designer or copywriter.

And even if you’re, it’s nonetheless good to have a serving to hand whenever you’re feeling a little bit uninspired.

That’s why we suggest selecting a e-newsletter platform that options artistic help instruments like:

• AI writing aids that will help you brainstorm concepts and switch them into partaking copy.
• RSS feeds so as to add your most up-to-date posts, podcasts, movies, and merchandise in your emails.
• Options that permit you to make fast updates to each side of your newsletters. 
• Constructed-in graphic design instruments like Canva so as to add wealthy photos to your emails.

Dynamic segmentation

Just about each e-newsletter platform gives some type of viewers segmentation performance, which lets you lower and slice your electronic mail record primarily based on shared traits and behaviors.

However to essentially stand out, you need a e-newsletter platform that permits dynamic segmentation.

Conventional segments are static, which implies a buyer will stay in a phase till you progress them to a brand new one.

In the meantime, dynamic segments replace in actual time primarily based on buyer behaviors.

For example, think about you run an ecommerce retailer. If a consumer spends $300 inside three months, they might be routinely moved to your dynamic “VIP buyer” phase, so you’ll be able to ship them focused newsletters encouraging them to purchase much more.

Instruments to develop your viewers

Sadly, electronic mail lists don’t develop by themselves.

You want some approach to get folks to subscribe by means of landing pages, sign-up forms, and popups.

Don’t have your individual web site?

That’s not essentially an issue, as a result of some electronic mail e-newsletter platforms will host your kind or touchdown web page for you.

9 finest e-newsletter software program platforms

Now let’s take a extra in-depth take a look at every platform…

1 – AWeber

Evaluations

Greatest for: All-round e-newsletter performance

AWeber is finest for folks searching for an all-round electronic mail e-newsletter platform that does a little bit of the whole lot. Nice for coaches, content material creators, bloggers, affiliate entrepreneurs, and sellers on on-line marketplaces like Etsy.

Key options

• #1 on-line graphic design device, Canva, constructed instantly into the e-mail builder.
• Universal theme settings means that you can change fonts, colours, buttons, dividers, and extra from a single management.
• Email automatically sent to subscribers the second you publish new blogs, movies, merchandise, and extra.
• RSS feed that may auto-display titles, descriptions, and pictures for revealed content material and merchandise.
• Drag-and-drop electronic mail builder for simple e-newsletter customization.
• Signup kinds and touchdown pages to assist develop your e-newsletter record.
• Gross sales pages and a number of fee choices to monetize your e-newsletter.
• Dynamic content material and segmentation allow you to ship customized viewers experiences.
• Web push notifications on all plans allow you to achieve your viewers past the inbox.
• In-house electronic mail deliverability group with intensive deliverability administration and experience.
• AI writing tool to brainstorm concepts and create draft newsletters in seconds.
• Split-testing means that you can measure which topic line, preview textual content, message content material, and ship time variants ship one of the best outcomes.

Buyer Assist

All AWeber customers — even these on the free plan — can contact the help group by way of stay chat and electronic mail help, whereas paying clients also can entry cellphone help. 

Free performance

On AWeber’s free plan you’ll be able to have as much as 500 subscribers and ship as much as 3,000 emails a month. It additionally gives entry to superior instruments, together with a touchdown web page builder, lead seize kinds, and segmentation.

Pricing

Paid plans begin at $12.50 monthly for as much as 500 subscribers and limitless emails.

Sign up for an AWeber account today.

2 – Fixed Contact

Evaluations

Greatest for: Multichannel advertising and marketing

Fixed Contact is an effective match for entrepreneurs seeking to leverage a number of channels — electronic mail, SMS, and social media — from inside a single platform.

Key options

• AI-powered topic line suggestions.
• Use the drag-and-drop editor or begin with one among 200+ templates.
• Personalize your newsletters with dynamic content material blocks that replace primarily based on who sees them.
• Use the cell app to handle campaigns out of your cellphone.
• Bolt on SMS messaging to run multichannel advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Lengthen your attain by posting on Fb, Instagram, and LinkedIn from inside the platform.
• Generate leads utilizing the built-in touchdown web page builder.

Technical Assist

All Fixed Contact clients can entry self-service, stay chat, and phone-based help, no matter which plan they’re on. Nevertheless, they don’t supply electronic mail help.

Free performance

Fixed Contact doesn’t have a free product tier. As a substitute, it gives a 60-day free trial with a 100-email ship restrict.

Pricing

Costs begin at $12 monthly for as much as 500 contacts and 5,000 month-to-month electronic mail sends.

3 – Mailchimp

Evaluations

Greatest for: Superior e-newsletter analytics

Information-driven entrepreneurs will love Mailchimp’s subtle reporting instruments, which give real-time insights on emails, automations, ecommerce efficiency, and extra.

Key options

• Get inspiration in your e-newsletter design from a library of 100+ pre-built electronic mail templates.
• Optimize your e-newsletter campaigns utilizing superior analytics and reporting instruments that pull in information from a number of platforms, together with Google Analytics and Shopify.
• Create high quality content material quicker with generative AI instruments, accessible on Mailchimp’s Commonplace and Premium plans.
• Construct optimized touchdown pages and even a whole web site utilizing the Mailchimp platform.
• Ship customized messaging at scale utilizing multichannel automations.
• Combine with 300+ apps and instruments, together with QuickBooks, Shopify, and WooCommerce.

Technical Assist

Mailchimp’s technical and buyer help varies by value plan. Necessities and Commonplace subscribers get 24/7 electronic mail and chat help, whereas top-tier Premium clients take pleasure in cellphone and precedence help. On the free plan, customers are restricted to electronic mail help — and just for the primary 30 days after they join.

Free performance

Mailchimp’s free plan contains as much as 500 subscribers and 1,000 month-to-month electronic mail sends, plus kinds, touchdown pages, and restricted entry to reporting instruments and e-newsletter templates.

Pricing

Paid plans begin at $13 monthly for as much as 500 subscribers and 5,000 month-to-month electronic mail sends.

4 – MailerLite

Evaluations

Greatest for: Low-cost electronic mail advertising and marketing

MailerLite is without doubt one of the lowest-cost e-newsletter platforms available on the market.

Key options

• Design emails your manner utilizing both the drag-and-drop editor, wealthy textual content editor, or HTML electronic mail editor.
• Collect viewers suggestions by embedding surveys inside your newsletters.
• Add social sharing options to increase your viewers.
• Goal a number of audiences with a single electronic mail by filtering who can see sure content material sections.
• Monetize your newsletter by connecting your on-line retailer or promoting digital merchandise and subscriptions.
• Get a headstart with 50+ professionally designed e-newsletter templates. 

Technical Assist

All paying MailerLite clients obtain 24/7 electronic mail help, whereas Superior and Enterprise subscribers additionally get entry to stay chat help. When you’ve received a free MailerLite account, you’ll must make do with as much as 30 days of electronic mail and chat help.

Free performance

MailerLite’s free plan means that you can ship 12,000 month-to-month emails to as much as 1,000 contacts and likewise contains entry to the platform’s touchdown web page, lead seize kind, and automation builders.

Pricing

Paid plans are priced from $10 monthly for as much as 500 subscribers and limitless emails.

5 – Flodesk

Evaluations

Greatest for: Massive e-newsletter lists with easy wants

Whether or not you’ve received 100 e-newsletter subscribers or 100,000, Flodesk costs you a similar month-to-month sum (though there’s an additional value for ecommerce performance).

Key options

• Pay one fastened fee, regardless of how briskly your e-newsletter grows, with a single value plan for as much as 100,000 subscribers.
• Make data-backed selections by analyzing your hottest emails, sending occasions, and extra.
• Develop your e-newsletter record by constructing sign-up kinds and touchdown pages.
• Create on-brand newsletters by importing your individual fonts and branded graphics (though customized fonts aren’t suitable with all electronic mail suppliers).
• Bolt on ecommerce performance to monetize your content material by means of gross sales pages, fee processing, and checkout flows.

Technical Assist

Flodesk solely gives email-based technical help. They reply emails from 6 am to six pm ET, sometimes inside two enterprise days.

Free performance

Flodesk does technically supply a free plan, but it surely doesn’t embrace any newsletter-sending performance — only a free link-in-bio device for lead era.

Pricing

To ship electronic mail newsletters by means of Flodesk, you’ll must pay $35 monthly (plus an extra $24 monthly so as to add ecommerce performance). The e-mail advertising and marketing plan contains as much as 100,000 subscribers.

6 – Substack

Evaluations

Greatest for: Thought leaders and influencers

If you have already got an enormous viewers and need to monetize by means of paid newsletters, Substack might be the proper e-newsletter platform. It’s not fairly as efficient should you’re making an attempt to develop an electronic mail record from scratch.

Key options

• Monetize your newsletters by charging your readers subscriptions of $5 – $75 monthly.
• Ship newsletters freed from cost; Substack simply takes a lower of your subscription charges.
• Change your present e-newsletter to Substack by importing mailing lists and content material archives from Medium, Tumblr, WordPress, and different platforms.
• Determine which posts to publish at no cost and which to maintain behind your subscription paywall.
• Develop your viewers with in-platform suggestions, visitor posts, mentions, and referrals.

Technical Assist

You’ll be able to attain out to Substack’s help group by way of stay chat or by submitting a request by means of an onsite kind.

Free performance

Substack is completely free for writers; they make their cash by charging a proportion of your subscription charges.

Pricing

Whilst you don’t technically pay Substack something, they preserve 10% of your subscription charges. You retain the remaining, minus bank card and transaction charges.

7 – ActiveCampaign

Evaluations

Greatest for: Enterprise-grade electronic mail advertising and marketing

ActiveCampaign’s subtle segmentation instruments and multi-user enhancing performance make the platform a well-liked alternative for advertising and marketing groups at huge companies. Plus it’s comparatively dear, which could delay particular person content material creators and smaller groups.

Key options

• Arrange lovely campaigns in minutes utilizing the drag-and-drop electronic mail designer.
• Ship focused electronic mail campaigns at scale with ActiveCampaign’s segmentation and dynamic content material instruments.
• Run cut up checks to grasp which newsletters generate essentially the most opens, clicks, and gross sales.
• Get impressed by lots of of responsive electronic mail templates for B2B and B2C entrepreneurs.
• Hold your sender popularity excessive with automated list-cleaning to take away inactive contacts.
• Collaborate on e-newsletter design and marketing campaign setup with multi-user enhancing.

Technical Assist

ActiveCampaign clients can entry technical help by way of stay chat or by submitting a request by means of an onsite submission kind.

Free performance

ActiveCampaign doesn’t have a free plan. As a substitute, it gives a 14-day free trial that features entry to most — however not all — of the platform’s options.

Pricing

Paid plans are priced from $29 monthly for 1,000 contacts and 10,000 month-to-month electronic mail sends.

8 – GetResponse

Evaluations

Greatest for: Publication insights

When you’re the kind of marketer who likes to research stay information and course-correct quick, GetResponse is a robust alternative, providing you with real-time entry to a bunch of key e-newsletter metrics (assume open charges, click-through charges, bounce charges, and extra).

Key options

• Construct and host limitless webinars for as much as 1,000 stay attendees and retailer as much as 20 hours of webinar recordings.
• Generate partaking, industry-specific topic traces straight away with the AI creator device. 
• Design skilled emails shortly with drag-and-drop blocks of textual content, photos, CTA buttons, and extra.
• Browse a library of 200+ electronic mail templates optimized for numerous advertising and marketing objectives.
• Construct segments primarily based on subscribers’ onsite actions and the way they work together together with your newsletters.
• A/B take a look at subject lines, photos, e-newsletter layouts, and CTA buttons to optimize marketing campaign efficiency.
• Monitor key metrics and information factors like open charges, click-through charges, and click on maps in actual time.

Technical Assist

Free customers don’t get any technical help. All paying clients obtain electronic mail and chat help, whereas Enterprise clients can entry cellphone help. Chosen Max subscribers also can attain out by means of Slack.

Free performance

The free GetResponse plan offers you a listing for as much as 500 contacts and allows you to ship as much as 2,500 newsletters monthly. It additionally contains entry to the platform’s touchdown web page builder, sign-up kinds, and web site builder.

Pricing

GetResponse’s paid plans begin at $15.60 monthly for as much as 1,000 contacts and limitless month-to-month emails.

9 – ConvertKit

Evaluations

Greatest for: Content material creators who want a primary e-newsletter device

ConvertKit doesn’t supply essentially the most superior reporting or subtle segmentation. However should you’re a content material creator who simply desires to ship electronic mail newsletters (whereas profiting from some neat viewers development instruments), it’s a effective alternative.

Key options

• Create newsletters utilizing the easy, block-based visible electronic mail builder.
• Embed a number of content material varieties — together with tweets, movies, and merchandise — in your newsletters.
• Use tags and segments to arrange your e-newsletter subscribers from a single electronic mail record.
• Develop your viewers by means of ConvertKit’s built-in suggestions engine, or by utilizing the platform’s touchdown web page and sign-up kind builders.
• Monetize your content material by charging a subscription charge or selling digital products like on-line programs and ebooks.

Technical Assist

ConvertKit gives three completely different tiers of buyer help. Free customers must depend on neighborhood help, whereas paying clients get electronic mail and stay chat help. Creator Professional subscribers obtain precedence help.

Free performance

ConvertKit’s free plan contains as much as 1,000 subscribers and limitless electronic mail broadcasts, touchdown pages, and sign-up kinds.

Pricing

The entry-level ConvertKit plan, Creator, prices $9 monthly for as much as 300 subscribers and limitless e-newsletter sends. It additionally features a bunch of performance that’s not accessible on the free plan, equivalent to automated electronic mail sequences and the chance to develop your electronic mail record by means of paid promotions with different creators.

Select one of the best all-round e-newsletter software program

Naturally we’re biased, however we really consider AWeber is one of the best e-newsletter software program for many use circumstances — particularly should you’re a content material creator, coach, on-line market vendor, affiliate marketer, or small enterprise.

Our costs are reasonably priced.

Our electronic mail creation instruments are easy to grasp, however with all the delicate options it is advisable to create gorgeous, partaking content material every time — assume an AI-powered writing help, built-in Canva entry, and extra.

Our universal theme settings permit you to change colours and fonts, add buttons and dividers, and far more moreover — all from a single management.

Our signup kinds and touchdown pages enable you to construct a devoted viewers of people that can’t wait in your subsequent e-newsletter.

And that’s only for starters.

In fact, we don’t anticipate you to take our phrase for it.
See for yourself by signing up for a free account today!