Updated in June, 2020 with edits and updates to the list. May contain affiliate links.
I’ve sent over 3.5 Billion (with a B) emails in my career and managed email lists over 11 million records.
But, before you can send billions, or even hundreds of emails… you need to build your audience from zero into your first 10, 100 or 1,000 followers. Since I’ve started writing more and more about email marketing and selling online, I’ve spent a lot of time researching and trying a ton of the email tools that are available. The list of possible platforms is honestly too long to count, but some tools are better for bloggers and solo-preneurs like you.
The goal of this list is to make your life easier. You don’t need to spend time researching email tools, your time is much better spent writing, making videos, podcasting, or simply put… getting your work out the door!
So, I’ve compiled this list of the 5 best tools I’ve found for bloggers and solo-preneurs that are looking to take their side hustle more seriously. Here’s to you making your dreams a reality and putting the powerful channel of email to work for your business.
Oh, one last note… if I’m missing the next best email tool, let me know in the comments below!
NUMBER 1…
The Creators Choice
ConvertKit was made by creators for creators. Everything they make is designed to help bloggers and creators grow their business. It’s number one because of their intense focus on serving creators like me and you.
HIGHLIGHTS
ConvertKit recently announced a free starting plan for their customers. Although I’m a HUGE fan of ConvertKit, the cost can be a hangup for people on a tight budget.
They’re all about helping creators make a living, so more than any other tool, their services and their product roadmap are all working towards that end.
PRICING
Plans starting at FREE and going up from there. If you need automation, those plans start at $29/mo.
PROS
- 24/7 Support
- Simple Audience Segmentation
- A Supportive Community
- Visual Automation Builder
- Platform Migration Concierge
- Simple Email Builder
- 3rd Party Integrations
CONS
- Difficult to build image based emails
- Free plan excludes automation
NUMBER 2…
The Powerful & Affordable Choice
MailerLite, as a platform, is very similar to Mailchimp. They have a powerful content editor, landing page builder, and automation builder. It’s a great tool that powers email for one of my side hustles, so I know it’s a great choice.
HIGHLIGHTS
MailerLite is similar in origin to Mailchimp as an agency turned email marketing platform. On top of a great platform that’s similar in function and price, they stand out with their robust landing page builder and powerful content editor. If building landing pages is difficult for you and you can’t afford LeadPages, MailerLite may be just what you need. (Or the Divi Builder on WordPress)
PRICING
FREE up to 1,000 subscribers. Modest price increases as you scale.
PROS
- Start for Free, Inexpensive to Scale
- Robust Email Builder
- Strong Visual Flexibility in Emails
- Great Customer Service
- List Building Tools
- Robust Automation
CONS
- You need an existing website to join (I tried to create an account pre-launch of a side-project & they wouldn’t approve my account.)
NUMBER 3…
The Popular Choice
What Mailchimp has been able to do during their tenure is remarkable. Plus, they’ve stayed true to their whimsical culture while producing a high quality platform that integrates with pretty much everyone!
HIGHLIGHTS
I’ve used Mailchimp for many years on projects and for clients. I’m a fan of their simplicity and the fact that they integrate with almost everything. They have some restrictions on affiliate marketing, which a lot of bloggers rely on for income. If you have no intention of making money off of your list with affiliate marketing, I think it’s safe to use them. If that’s in your business plan, keep this in mind as you build out your solution.
PRICING
FREE up to 2,000 subscribers. Affordable increases as you grow your audience.
PROS
- Start for Free, Affordable to Scale
- Easy to use
- Most of 3rd party integrations (by FAR!)
- You Can Manage Ads (if needed)
- Basic Automation
- Landing Page Builder
- You can send postcards
- Keeps Innovating
CONS
- Limited flexibility on data structure
NUMBER 4…
The Second Popular Choice
HIGHLIGHTS
AWeber ate with almost everything. They have some restrictions on affiliate marketing, which a lot of bloggers rely on for income. If you have no intention of making money off of your list with affiliate marketing, I think it’s safe to use them. If that’s in your business plan, keep this in mind as you build out your solution.
PRICING
Plans starting at $19/mo + 30 Day Free Trial.
PROS
- Easy to use
- Lots of 3rd party integrations
- 24/7 Support
- Visual Automation Builder
- Drag and Drop Editor
- Tags to Manage Subscribers
- Email Signup Mobile App
CONS
- Not as innovative lately
NUMBER 5…
The Powerful Choice
I’ve been using ActiveCampaign for over a year on client work, which is why I now use it for this blog. It’s an extremely powerful tool with a modest price-point.
HIGHLIGHTS
ActiveCampaign is powerful enough to support multi-million dollar eCommerce business, but is surprisingly simple enough for non-technical bloggers to get the hang of pretty quickly.
If you are at the every beginning of your email journey, I’d choose ConvertKit, but if you’re looking to automate a bunch of different workflows, I think you should consider ActiveCampaign.
PRICING
Plans
PROS
- Sophisticated Customer Management
- Robust Automation
- Integrations with most 3rd party tools
- Manage multiple lists / audience segments
CONS
- Too much functionality just for bloggers
- Not as simple as other options
My Recommendations…
IF YOU NEED LOTS OF AUTOMATION…
THE OVERALL WINNER…
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