7 Best Email Marketing Services for Small Businesses

Running a small business can be overwhelming. You need to manage operations, sales, and customer relationships. So you have a lot on your plate.

Now, throw in the task of spending days finding an ideal email marketing service — nobody has time for this.

But here's the thing: email is the best channel to skyrocket your customer engagement and sales. And for small business owners, getting affordable yet effective email marketing automation tools is crucial.

But with countless options on the market, how do you choose the right one quick?

We've done the research so you don't have to and narrowed it down to the seven best free email marketing services tailored for small businesses.

#1. Sender — Best free email marketing software for startups and small businesses

Source: Sender

If you want to grow your business and build meaningful relationships, you must constantly connect with your customers. With Sender, doing that is a childsplay.

The platform’s drag-and-drop design builder helps you craft beautiful newsletters without coding. You can also choose a premade template from its free library if you're short on time. And the best part? All the templates are mobile-responsive, meaning your emails will look great on any screen.

But it's not just about the aesthetics. Sender's email and SMS automation helps you reach customers at the best time — meet them exactly when they need you. With features like segmentation and personalization, you can target the right subscribers with customized messages. That means higher engagement and, ultimately, more sales.

In addition, the real-time reports and analytics feature gives you a clear picture of how your email campaigns perform. That way, you can optimize them for better results.

Key features

• Email and SMS marketing automation for triggered workflows;

• Advanced segmentation and personalization so you can target customers with relevant messages to boost conversions;

• High-converting popups (like spin-to-win and exit-intent) to capture leads;

• Drag-and-drop email builder and premade templates to create stunning newsletters;

• Real-time reports and analytics with heatmaps to optimize your email and SMS campaigns;

• Seamless integration with CRMs, ecommerce platforms, and content management systems like WordPress, Shopify, and WooCommerce;

Pricing

Sender offers a Free Forever plan for small businesses and startups just starting out. The free plan lets you send up to 15,000 monthly emails to up to 2,500 subscribers.

Its paid plans include:

• Standard: $8 per month for up to 12,000 emails, everything in the free plan, and other features like SMS messaging.

• Professional: $29 per month for up to 60,000 emails and everything in Standard plus more features.

• Enterprise: Custom Pricing.

#2. Constant Contact — Best email marketing platform to build solid customer relationships

Source: Constant Contact

Constant Contact is your go-to email marketing service if you want to build strong connections and drive real results.

With its email automation, you can schedule your messages to be sent at the appropriate times to boost engagement. You also don't have to rely on guesswork. The platform offers A/B testing that lets you experiment with different email versions to see which ones resonate most with your audience.

Its AI Content Generator helps you craft brilliant subject lines and messages in seconds. You can then use these messages to nurture prospects and customers through email, social media, and SMS.

Constant Contact's lead generation tools also make it easy to attract suitable leads so you can nurture them with personalized content and eventually turn them into loyal customers.

Key features

• Email marketing automation;

• Landing pages to capture new leads;

• A/B testing to boost your open rates and conversions;

• SMS and social media marketing;

• Mobile apps to manage your accounts on the go.

Pricing

Constant Contact offers a 14-day free trial. After that, you have to invest in one of its paid plans, which include:

• Lite: $12 per month for up to 500 contacts.

• Standard: $35 per month for up to 500 contacts.

• Premium: $80 per month for up to 500 contacts.

  #3. HubSpot — Best email marketing solution with a CRM platform

  
  Source: HubSpot

HubSpot offers email marketing tools that allow you to create, personalize, and optimize your emails without the constant back-and-forth with designers or IT teams.

The tools ensure that your emails are not only professional but also highly personalized. Thanks to its CRM database, you can customize your messages based on specific customer behavior and needs so that you hit the mark every time.

But HubSpot doesn't just stop there. Its drag-and-drop editor lets you design emails that look stunning on any device. You can start with goal-based email templates or choose from a massive library and customize them in minutes.

You can also use A/B tests and analytics to understand which content drives engagement and sales. Plus, thanks to artificial intelligence, you can craft engaging emails in a flash, making content creation much faster and more efficient.

Key features

• Goal-based email templates and email editor to craft engaging emails;
• Segmentation and personalization for more conversions;
• A/B testing and analytics to optimize your campaigns;

• AI content writing features to generate marketing emails quickly;

  Pricing

HubSpot provides a free email marketing service plan but with limited features. Its paid plans include:

• Starter: $20 per month for up to 1,000 marketing contacts.

• Professional: $890 per month for up to 2,000 marketing contacts.

#4. GetResponse — Best email marketing app to streamline and optimize your marketing efforts

Source: GetResponse

GetResponse is an email marketing platform that streamlines your marketing efforts to maximize results.

The platform helps you to effortlessly create and personalize your marketing emails through its drag-and-drop editor and prebuilt templates. Plus, with features like A/B testing, analytics, and an AI Email Generator, you can craft messages that engage and convert.

But there's more to GetResponse than just sending an email. The platform offers a suite of marketing tools designed to help you effortlessly capture new leads and nurture them to brand ambassadors. So whether you want to engage customers, boost online sales, or grow your audience, GetResponse is your go-to software.

Key features

• Marketing automation tools to engage customers and grow your audience;
• AI Email Generator to create attractive subject lines and emails in seconds;
• SMS marketing to reach customers directly;
• AI-generated landing pages to grow your lists and promote your offers;

• Conversion funnels to convert prospects into customers.

  Pricing

GetResponse offers a 30-day free trial. Once the trial ends, you need to purchase one of its paid plans that includes:

• Email Marketing: $15.58 per month (billed yearly) for up to 1,000 contacts.
• Marketing Automation: $48.38 per month (billed yearly) for up to 1,000 contacts.

• Ecommerce Marketing: $97.58 per month (billed yearly) for up to 1,000 contacts.

  #5. Klaviyo — Best email marketing service with a customer data platform

  
  Source: Klaviyo

Klaviyo is a marketing automation tool that uses customer data to simplify your tasks and maximize your growth potential.

The platform enables you to send hyper-targeted emails with dynamic content, like product recommendations, that resonate with your audience. Not only that, it offers SMS marketing that lets you reach your most loyal customers and engage in two-way conversations.

One of Klaviyo's standout features is its customer data platform (CDP). It stores, manages, and analyzes your data to give you comprehensive customer profiles. As a result, you get a complete picture of each buyer’s journey so you can make informed decisions.

Key features

• Advanced automation features to create engaging campaigns;
• SMS marketing to reach customers where they are;
• Customer data platform to store, analyze, and use data at scale;
• Ecommerce integration so you can send highly personalized emails that drive sales;

• Advanced segmentation to reach the right customers.

  Pricing

Klaviyo has a free plan that allows you to send up to 500 emails to 250 contacts every month. Its plaid plans include:

• Email: Starting at $20 per month for up to 2,500 emails and 500 contacts.

• Email and SMS: Starting at $35 per month for up to 2,500 emails, 500 contacts, and 1,250 monthly SMS credits.

#6. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — Best email marketing tool to automate campaigns across various channels

Source: Brevo

Brevo is an email marketing app that helps you build lasting customer relationships across various channels like email, SMS, and more.

The software lets you design personalized email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns that resonate with your audience and eventually transform one-time users into loyal customers.

With Brevo's sales platform, you can identify leads, cultivate customer relationships, and drive revenue. Plus, the live chat and chatbot features help you engage clients in real-time and offer a personalized touch to your interactions.

Key features

• Email, SMS, and WhatsApp campaigns to engage subscribers in multiple channels;
• Live chat and chatbot features to assist customers in real-time;
• Transactional emails to update shoppers with password resets and order confirmations or shipping details;

• Sales platform to grow leads and drive revenue.

Pricing

Brevo offers a free plan with unlimited contacts and 300 emails daily. The paid plans include the following:

• Starter: $25 per month with unlimited contacts and 20,000 monthly emails.
• Business: $65 per month with unlimited contacts and 20,000 monthly emails. It also includes more features like A/B testing and send time optimization.

• BrevoPlus: Custom Pricing. Everything in Business plus other features like enterprise-grade security.

#7. Convertkit — Best email marketing provider for content creators

Source: ConvertKit

ConvertKit is the go-to marketing platform for creators. Whether you're an author, coach, or musician, the tool helps you grow and monetize your audience.

The software allows you to build landing pages and sign-up forms to capture leads and grow your customer base. In addition, you can create engaging campaigns and sell your products online to boost revenue.

With their automation features and powerful sales funnels, you can automate your email marketing campaigns, create solid relationships with your audience, and increase revenue.

Key features

• Email marketing automation to connect with your audience and grow your business;
• Email designer to create beautiful emails;
• Creator Network to scale your newsletter growth;

• Integrates with other business tools like Shopify, Monday.com, and Stripe.

Pricing

ConvertKit offers a 14-day free trial. You’ll then be upgraded to one of its paid plans, including:

• Creator: $15 per month for up to 300 subscribers.

• Creator Pro: $29 per month for up to 300 subscribers.

  Invest in the right email marketing service to grow your business

When running a small business, every decision can make a big difference. And choosing the right email marketing platforms is no exception. The perfect tool can help you build solid customer relationships, drive sales, and grow your brand.

So whether you want to automate your campaigns or use analytics to optimize your email marketing strategy, the tools above can help you scale your small business.