We’re taking a look at 5 of the most popular email marketing platforms in the UK, to compare what’s included in their FREE basic package.
Email marketing is an essential tool for any modern business, and there are many platforms available, whether you’re looking to build engagement with subscribers, improve the customer experience through automation or drive sales, having the right systems in place can make all the difference.
In this blog post, we will compare the key features of some of the most popular emailmarketing platforms in the UK, that have a free basic offering.
| Platform | Cost | Users | Subscribers | Monthly email limit | Additional functionality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Convertkit | Free | 1 | 300 | unlimited | Landing pages & formsSegmentation |
| HubSpot | Free | 1 | 1,000,000 | 2000 | Landing pages & formsSegmentationBlog |
| Sendinblue | Free | 1 | unlimited | 9000 | FormsAutomationSegmentation |
| Mailchimp | Free | 1 | 500 | 1000 | Landing pages & formsTemplates |
| Mailerlite | Free | 1 | 1000 | 12000 | Landing pages & formsAutomation |
Convertkit: Targeting online creatives like bloggers and YouTubers. All plans let you send unlimited emails and come with live chat and email support. For paid plans, pricing is based on how many subscribers you have, the free plan lets you have up to 300 contacts. Ideal for businesses with a smaller contact list but a requirement for more regular email contact than once per month.
HubSpot: More popular perhaps as a CRM tool, HubSpot’s email marketing features are spread between their Marketing Hub and Sales Hub (CRM). The free plan allows you to send up to 2,000 emails per month and store up to 1,000,000 contacts, as well as boasting a drag-and-drop editor and extensive template library.
Sendinblue: A newer email marketing platform that is gaining popularity due to its affordability and user-friendly interface. Payment is based on the number of emails you want to send, rather than the number of subscribers you have, the free version allowing you to send up to 300 emails per day to an unlimited number of subscribers. This makes it an ideal option for businesses sending emails to targeted groups of contacts, rather than bulk mailing lists.
Mailchimp: Historically one of the most popular email marketing platforms, but is now also one of the most expensive. The free version of Mailchimp allows you to send up to 1000 emails per month to up to 500 subscribers, and includes basic templates, forms and landing pages, and basic reporting. It continues to be a great start-up option, although businesses will tend to migrate elsewhere as their contact lists expand past the threshold.
Mailerlite: Great for those with limited email marketing experience, allowing creation of any kind of email campaign with their drag-and-drop editor. The free plan allows you to send 12,000 emails per month to 1,000 contacts, making it the best option for sending regularly to a larger mailing list.
Choosing the right email marketing service for you can feel overwhelming, but focussing on the needs of your business first can help narrow down the selection. Consider the following questions:
1. How many email subscribers do you have now?
Is there a free package that would make a good starting point?
What if your email list grows? Would the next tier pricing still be the most cost effective option?
2. What type of emails do you plan to send and how often?
A newsletter to all subscribers would require a much higher monthly email limit than a weekly email to a targeted group, or a simple welcome email to new subscribers.
3. How will you capture subscriber information?
Do you need to be able to create capture forms and landing pages?
4. What level of automation is required?
Do you need to be able to schedule emails, create automated welcome messages or customer pathways?
5. How will you use reporting and analytics?
Analysis of the customer pathway can be a valuable tool for improving processes and engagement. What tools are available and how might they add value?
If you could use some help with the initial set-up of your system, or with the ongoing management, that’s something we can help with! Get in touch to discuss.
