9 Best Email Marketing Software For Startups

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, startups cannot afford to ignore the power of email marketing as a channel for growth. Despite the rise of social media and other digital marketing avenues, email remains a highly effective and cost-efficient way to engage customers, nurture leads, and build brand loyalty. But as a startup, you don’t have the luxury of time to sift through dozens of tools to find the one that’s just right for you. That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. In this comprehensive guide, we’ve rounded up the 9 best email marketing tools tailored for startups, comparing features, pricing, and ease-of-use to help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive in! 1. Brevo 2. GetResponse 3. HubSpot 4. ClickFunnels 5. Flodesk 6. ActiveCampaign 7. MailerLite 8. Moosend 9. Engagebay

1. Brevo

Brevo is perfect for startups that are new to the email marketing scene and need a straightforward, user-friendly platform. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to create stunning email templates, manage your contact lists, and set up automated workflows. The software offers robust analytics, ensuring startups can keep an eye on key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions. With a competitive pricing model that grows with your subscriber list, Brevo is a cost-effective choice for young companies.

Brevo Features

1. Intuitive Interface User-friendly dashboard that simplifies email campaign setup and management. 2. Template Library A variety of customizable, pre-made email templates for various business needs. 3. Automated Workflows Allows for the creation of automated email sequences based on triggers and user behavior. 4. Analytics Dashboard Comprehensive metrics on open rates, click-through rates, and conversions for performance tracking.

Brevo Pros

1. User-Friendly

Extremely intuitive interface, perfect for beginners in email marketing.

2. Cost-Effective

Offers a pricing model that is friendly to startups, allowing for scaling as the business grows.

3. Insightful Analytics

Provides a detailed analytics dashboard for monitoring campaign success and adjusting strategies.

Brevo Cons

1. Limited Advanced Features

May not offer the depth of features desired by larger or more advanced users.

2. Smaller Template Library

Compared to other platforms, the template selection is somewhat limited.

Brevo Pricing

Plan	Price per Month
Free	$ 0
Starter	$ 25
Business	$ 65
Brevo Plus	Custom Pricing

Brevo Pricing Table

2. GetResponse

GetResponse is a multifaceted tool that goes beyond basic email marketing to offer webinars, landing pages, and advanced automation features. The platform is equipped with a drag-and-drop email editor and pre-designed templates that make creating emails a breeze. Its high-level analytics and A/B testing capabilities make it a great fit for startups focused on optimizing and scaling their email campaigns.

GetResponse Features

1. Drag-and-Drop Editor

Easy-to-use email editor that eliminates the need for coding skills.

2. Advanced Automation

Features include autoresponders, automated campaigns, and advanced segmentation.

3. Multi-Channel Capabilities

In addition to email, offers webinar hosting, landing pages, and eCommerce features.

4. A/B Testing

Allows you to test different versions of emails to optimize performance.

GetResponse Pros

1. Versatility

Beyond email marketing, the platform also offers webinars, landing pages, and eCommerce capabilities.

2. Advanced Automation

Offers autoresponders, advanced campaign automation, and segmentation.

3. Robust A/B Testing

Comprehensive A/B testing options for optimizing email campaigns.

GetResponse Cons

1. Complexity

With so many features, the platform can become overwhelming for new users.

2. Pricing

As you add more features and grow your contact list, pricing can become relatively high.

GetResponse Pricing

There are six pricing plans:

Plan	No. of Contacts	Price per Month
Free	500	$ 0
Basic	1000	$ 19
Plus	1000	$ 59
Professional	1000	$ 119
Max	–	Custom Pricing
Max2	–	Custom Pricing

3. HubSpot

HubSpot’s Email Marketing tool is part of a larger suite of marketing automation and CRM products, making it ideal for startups looking for an all-in-one solution. With its user-friendly design, HubSpot allows for easy personalization and segmentation, enabling startups to create highly targeted campaigns. Its integration with other HubSpot tools makes tracking the customer journey incredibly seamless.

HubSpot Features

1. All-in-One Suite

Comprehensive tool that integrates email marketing with CRM, lead generation, and customer service.

2. Personalization and Segmentation

Advanced features to send targeted emails based on user behavior and data.

3. Seamless Integration

Integrates easily with other HubSpot tools for a unified view of the customer journey.

4. Performance Analytics

Real-time analytics that track email performance, website engagement, and conversions.

HubSpot Pros

1. All-in-One Solution

Offers a comprehensive suite of marketing, sales, and service tools.

2. Seamless Integration

Effortlessly integrates with other HubSpot tools and external platforms.

3. Highly Scalable

Can grow with your business, adding functionalities as needed.

HubSpot Cons

1. Price

One of the more expensive options, particularly as you start adding more features.

2. Learning Curve

Due to its comprehensive nature, it may require a longer time to master all functionalities.

HubSpot Pricing

There are 3 pricing plans:

Plan	Price per Month
Free	$ 0
Starter	$ 18
Professional	$ 800

4. ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels specializes in creating effective sales funnels, and its email marketing capabilities are designed to complement that. Startups can easily upsell, downsell, and follow up with customers through automated sequences. The platform is perfect for startups that want to not only engage customers but also drive them towards making a purchase.

ClickFunnels Features

1. Sales Funnel Optimization

Designed to create and manage entire sales funnels, including email sequences.

2. Upsell and Downsell Features

Enables the creation of automated upsell and downsell campaigns within the email workflow.

3. Landing Page Integration

Allows you to build and link landing pages to capture more leads.

4. Pre-Made Funnel Templates

Offers a library of pre-designed funnel templates for quicker setup.

ClickFunnels Pros

1. Sales-Focused

Designed to optimize every stage of the sales funnel.

2. High Conversions

Built-in upsell and down sell features to maximize revenue.

3. Landing Page Integration

Allows seamless integration with landing pages to improve lead capture.

ClickFunnels Cons

1. Cost

Can be expensive, especially for startups with limited budgets.

2. Limited Email Functionality

While strong in sales funnels, it may lack in-depth email marketing features.

ClickFunnels Pricing

Plan	Price Per Month
Basic	$ 147
Pro	$ 197
Funnel Hacker	$ 297

Click Funnels Pricing Table

5. Flodesk

Flodesk is the go-to software for startups looking for visually appealing email designs. With its focus on aesthetics and easy-to-use design features, startups can create emails that truly stand out. Although it may lack some of the advanced automation features, its simplicity and focus on design make it a compelling choice for creative startups.

Flodesk Features

1. Visual Email Design

Focuses on delivering visually appealing emails with a wide range of design options.

2. Simple Drag-and-Drop Editor

Allows for easy customization of email templates.

3. Subscriber Segmentation

Basic segmentation features for targeted campaigns.

4. Mobile Responsiveness

Emails automatically adapt to different screen sizes for optimal viewing.

Flodesk Pros

1. Design-Centric

Prioritizes the visual aspect of email marketing.

2. Ease of Use

Very user-friendly, especially for those without technical skills.

3. Mobile-Responsive

Automatically optimizes emails for mobile viewing.

Flodesk Cons

1. Limited Advanced Features

Lacks some of the automation and analytics features of other platforms.

2. Niche Focus

Primarily catered to creative businesses, which might not suit all types of startups.

Flodesk Pricing

Plan	Price per Month
Email	$ 38
Checkout	$ 38
Everything	$ 64

Flodesk Pricing Table

6. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign combines email marketing, automation, sales automation, and CRM. It excels in customer experience automation, segmenting contacts based on their behavior, preferences, and previous interactions with your website. This allows startups to send personalized messages that engage and convert, making it a robust tool for startups with aggressive growth strategies.

ActiveCampaign Features

1. Customer Experience Automation

Combines email marketing, automation, and CRM for a 360-degree customer view.

2. Advanced Segmentation

Segment contacts based on behavior, location, and custom attributes.

3. Multichannel Marketing

In addition to email, supports SMS, Facebook Custom Audiences, and more.

4. Machine Learning

Utilizes machine learning to predict the best times to send emails.

ActiveCampaign Pros

1. Advanced Segmentation

Excellent at segmenting lists for highly targeted marketing.

2. Customer Experience Automation

Offers a 360-degree view of customer interactions.

3. Multi-Channel Capabilities

Beyond email, also includes SMS and social media advertising.

ActiveCampaign Cons

1. Complexity

Could be overwhelming for beginners due to its range of features.

2. Price

The advanced features come at a cost, making it more expensive for startups.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

Plan	Price per Month
Lite	$ 29
Plus	$ 49
Professional	$ 149
Enterprise	Custom Pricing

7. MailerLite

For startups on a budget, MailerLite offers an affordable yet powerful platform. The software provides a range of features including email automation, landing pages, and pop-ups, all within an easy-to-use interface. Its focus on simplicity and ease-of-use makes it a great starting point for startups unfamiliar with email marketing.

MailerLite Features

1. User-Friendly Interface

Designed for ease of use, especially for those new to email marketing.

2. Cost-Effective Plans

Affordable pricing structures with features usually found in more expensive tools.

3. Automation and Sequences

Easy setup for automated email campaigns and drip sequences.

4. Built-In Landing Pages

Provides tools to create landing pages and pop-ups within the platform.

MailerLite Pros

1. Affordability

One of the most cost-effective solutions available.

2. Simplicity

User-friendly interface, ideal for those new to email marketing.

3. Built-In Extras

Includes landing page and pop-up creation within the platform.

MailerLite Cons

1. Limited Analytics

Doesn’t offer as in-depth analytics as some other platforms.

2. Customer Support

While available, support isn’t as robust as that of other platforms.

MailerLite Pricing

No. of Contacts	Price Per Month
1000	$ 0
2500	$ 17
5000	$ 32
10,000	$ 54
50,000	$ 87

Mailerlite Pricing Table

8. Moosend

Moosend offers a range of features like email automation, analytics, and subscription forms with a focus on ease of use and scalability. Its drag-and-drop email editor and template library make it easy for startups to create professional emails. With no coding required and an affordable pricing structure, Moosend is accessible for startups of all sizes.

Moosend Features

1. Drag-and-Drop Editor

Makes it simple to create professional emails without needing to code.

2. Email Automation

Offers a range of pre-made automation templates for different business needs.

3. Real-Time Analytics

Tracks email campaign performance in real-time.

4. List Segmentation

Easily segment your subscriber list for more targeted email marketing.

Moosend Pros

1. Ease of Use

Simple, intuitive interface for ease of email creation.

2. Affordable Pricing

Offers competitive pricing with a feature-rich free tier.

3. Real-Time Analytics

Provides insightful metrics in real-time for quick adjustments.

Moosend Cons

1. Limited Integrations

Doesn’t offer as many third-party integrations as other platforms.

2. Basic Templates

The design templates are functional but relatively basic.

Moosend Pricing

No. of Subscribers	Price Per Month
0-500	$ 9
501-1000	$ 16
1001-2000	$ 24
2001-3500	$ 32
3501-5000	$ 48
5001-8000	$ 64
8001-10,000	$ 88

Moosend Pricing Table

9. Engagebay

Engagebay is a comprehensive platform offering marketing, sales, and customer service features. For startups in need of a holistic approach to customer engagement, this tool provides robust email marketing functionalities alongside other essential business operations. Its range of templates, automation features, and analytics make it a powerful tool for startups that are looking for an end-to-end business solution.

Engagebay Features

1. End-to-End Business Solution

Offers marketing, sales, and customer service features in one platform.

2. Automated Campaigns

Allows for the automation of multi-step, multi-channel campaigns.

3. Lead Scoring and Segmentation

Uses data analytics to score and segment leads for more targeted marketing.

4. 360-Degree Customer View

Consolidates customer interactions across all channels for a holistic understanding.

Engagebay Pros

1. Holistic Approach

Offers an all-in-one platform for marketing, sales, and customer service.

2. Lead Scoring and Segmentation

Advanced analytics for lead qualification and targeting.

3. Automation

Robust automation features for multi-step, multi-channel campaigns.

Engagebay Cons

1. Learning Curve

With so many features, it can take time to learn the platform.

2. Potential Overkill

For startups focused only on email marketing, the range of features may be excessive.

Engagebay Pricing

Plan	No. of Contacts	Price per Month
Free	250	$ 0
Basic	500	$ 12.74
Growth	5000	$ 42.49
Pro	Unlimited	$ 84.99

Engagebay Pricing Table

Best Email Marketing Software For Startups: Final Thoughts

Choosing the right email marketing software is crucial for startups aiming to grow and maintain strong customer relationships. The landscape of email marketing tools offers a variety of options, each with its unique set of features, pros, and cons. Whether you’re a startup focused on creating visually captivating emails, diving deep into customer segmentation, or looking for an all-in-one solution, there’s a platform tailored for your needs. Be sure to consider your specific business objectives, budget constraints, and desired level of customization before making your choice. Taking the time to select the software that aligns with your startup’s goals can make all the difference in successfully scaling your email marketing efforts.

Is email marketing easy?

Is Email Marketing Good for Beginners?

Email marketing is well-suited for beginners due to its low cost, ease of entry, and scalability. It offers a direct channel for relationship-building with your audience, immediate feedback for continual learning, and a range of resources to support your growth in this marketing channel.

• Low Barrier to Entry:

Email marketing platforms are generally user-friendly, offering templates and drag-and-drop editors that make it easy to get started.

• Cost-Effective:

For beginners, especially those in startups or small businesses, email marketing offers a cost-effective channel for reaching an audience.

• Scalability:

As your expertise or business grows, most email marketing platforms offer more advanced features that you can utilize over time.

• Control Over Messaging:

Unlike social media algorithms, email marketing allows you to control who sees your message and when.

• Direct Communication:

Email allows for a direct line of communication with your audience, offering the opportunity to build a more personal relationship.

• Immediate Feedback:

The analytics provided by most platforms offer instant feedback on open rates, click-through rates, and conversion, making it easier for beginners to learn and adapt quickly.

• Educational Resources:

Many platforms offer tutorials, webinars, and customer support to help beginners understand both the platform and email marketing best practices.

• Room for Experimentation:

Beginners can experiment with different types of campaigns, from newsletters to promotional offers, to see what resonates best with their audience.

• Skill Development:

As a beginner, you will learn valuable skills in communication, data analysis, and digital marketing strategy that will be beneficial in the long run.

• Compliance is Manageable:

Although there are laws and best practices to follow, most platforms offer guidance and built-in features to assist with compliance, making it manageable for beginners.

How Do I Start An Email Marketing As A Startup?

Starting email marketing for a startup involves several steps, from strategy formulation to execution and optimization. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Set Clear Goals

Understand what you aim to achieve with email marketing. Goals can range from brand awareness, customer engagement to driving sales.

2. Select an Email Marketing Tool

Based on your needs and budget, choose an email marketing platform that offers the features you need. Look for ease of use, scalability, and integration capabilities.

3. Quality Over Quantity

Aim for a list of potential or existing customers genuinely interested in your products or services.

4. Opt-In Forms

Use website pop-ups, landing pages, or social media to collect email addresses. Make sure to comply with data protection and privacy laws.

5. Categorize Subscribers

Divide your email list into segments based on customer behavior, location, or other metrics to send targeted emails.

6. Templates and Design

Use templates and drag-and-drop features to create visually appealing emails. Keep the design consistent with your brand’s look and feel.

7. Craft Your Message

Write compelling content that brings value to your audience. Use a strong call-to-action (CTA).

8. A/B Testing

Try different subject lines, content, or sending times to see what resonates with your audience.

9. Check for Errors

Make sure links work, images load, and the email looks good on both desktop and mobile.

10. Automate Campaigns

Use automated workflows to send welcome emails, promotional offers, and more based on triggers or customer behavior.

11. Timely Execution

Send your emails at times when they are more likely to be seen and opened.

12. Analyze Data

Use the analytics provided by your email marketing platform to track open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.

13. Optimize for Future

Use the data to refine your future campaigns. Test new approaches and discard tactics that aren’t working.

14. Legal Compliance

Make sure to adhere to laws like GDPR, CAN-SPAM, or other local regulations.

15. Educate Yourself

Stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in email marketing. By following these steps and continually optimizing, you’ll be well on your way to executing a successful email marketing strategy for your startup.

What is the Best and Free Software for Email Marketing?

The best free email marketing software often depends on your specific needs, but MailerLite and Brevo are frequently recommended for their generous free plans and robust features. Both platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and essential functionalities like campaign tracking and automation that can be invaluable for startups or small businesses. For a more in-depth comparison check out the best free email marketing tools.