13 Best Email Newsletter Platforms for 2024

Email marketing remains one of the most effective digital marketing channels. Recent statistics show that for every $1 spent on email marketing, businesses make an average return of $42. That‘s a 4100% return on investment!

With email newsletters continuing to drive business growth, having the right platform to create, manage and send your newsletters is essential.

In this updated guide for 2024, we‘ll be highlighting the top 13 email newsletter services on the market right now, focusing on their key features, pricing, pros and cons.

Whether you‘re just starting out or looking to switch to a new provider, use this guide to determine which solution is best suited for your specific needs.

Key Email Newsletter Platform Features

When evaluating email newsletter platforms, there are a few key features to look out for:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor – Allows you to easily create visually appealing newsletters without coding knowledge
Template library – Professionally designed templates make newsletter creation quicker
Segmentation tools – Split your lists into groups to target newsletters
Automations – Set up triggered messages like welcome series or abandoned cart
Analytics – Track opens, clicks and other metrics to optimize
Integrations – Connect other tools like your CRM, ecommerce store etc.

Keeping those features in mind, let‘s dive into the top platforms:

1. MailerLite – Best Overall

MailerLite retains its place as the best all-round email newsletter service. It strikes the perfect balance between an easy-to-use editor and powerful features.

Some key aspects that make MailerLite stand out:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
18,000+ mobile-optimized templates
Automations with filters and triggers
Landing pages and forms
Generous free plan (up to 1,000 subscribers)

In early 2023, MailerLite also introduced SMS marketing and became GDPR and CCPA compliant – key regulatory requirements in various regions.

With affordable pricing for small businesses and a free plan to get started, MailerLite is still our #1 choice.

MailerLite Pricing

Free plan up to 1,000 subscribers
Paid plans starting from $10/month

2. ConvertKit – Best for Creators

ConvertKit remains a firm favorite for bloggers, authors, coaches, podcasters and other digital creators wanting to build an audience.

It makes it easy to capture leads from your content then nurture them into loyal subscribers.

Some stand-out ConvertKit features include:

Intuitive editor optimized for simplicity
Great selection of templates for creators
Powerful automations based on tags and sequences
Excellent deliverability with an inbox rate over 99%
Useful ecommerce features

In 2023, ConvertKit introduced more advanced analytics allowing creators to better understand their audiences.

Their affordable pricing tiers and generosity free offering also continue to appeal.

ConvertKit Pricing

Free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
Paid plans starting from $29/month

3. Sendinblue – Best New Platform

A relative newcomer, Sendinblue has quickly become one of the top email service providers. It offers a generous free plan and an excellent free CRM.

Some reasons why Sendinblue stands out:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
300+ mobile-friendly templates
Powerful segmentation tools
Automation workflows with multiple triggers
Free CRM with unlimited contacts
SMS marketing and Facebook ad management

New features released in 2024 include an updated editor, Facebook and Instagram ad management, and enhanced analytics.

With its generous free plan (up to 300 subscribers), Sendinblue is ideal for startups and small businesses getting started with email newsletters.

Sendinblue Pricing

Free plan up to 300 subscribers
Paid plans starting at $25/month

4. ActiveCampaign – Most Powerful Automations

ActiveCampaign is the platform of choice for marketers wanting advanced automations.

It provides enterprise-grade features without the typical high cost. Reasons it stands out:

500+ pre-built automations
Smart AI-powered platform
Highly customizable
Excellent deliverability and inboxing rates
Range of built-in sales and marketing tools

2023 updates include a newdrag-and-drop editor, SMS editor and Facebook ad management capabilities.

While one of the more expensive providers, ActiveCampaign delivers tremendous value through its powerful feature set. It‘s an excellent choice for larger businesses.

ActiveCampaign Pricing

Plans starting from $9/month for 500 contacts

5. Moosend – Easiest to Use

Moosend is potentially the most beginner-friendly email newsletter builder available. With an incredibly intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can create beautiful, rich newsletters in minutes.

Here‘s an overview of Moosend‘s key features:

Extremely easy drag-and-drop editor
Great looking templates for all industries
Powerful segmentation and personalization capabilities
Automations with multiple triggers
Excellent analytics and reports
Generous free plan (up to 500 contacts)

In 2023, Moosend focussed on enhancing deliverability and inbox placement while keeping their platform intuitive.

For beginners wanting a platform that‘s easy to master, Moosend is a great choice with affordable pricing.

Moosend Pricing

Free plan up to 500 contacts
Paid plans starting at $19/month

6. AWeber – Most Templates

First launched in 1998, AWeber is one of the most established email marketing platforms. It‘s known for its large template library and integration with other tools.

Some key features include:

Over 600 mobile-friendly templates
Easy to use drag-and drop-builder
Integration with WordPress, Shopify and more
Good selection of automations
Decent free plan (up to 500 subscribers)

Recent upgrades include a new editor, better segmentation tools and more analytics capabilities.

For access to the largest template library, AWeber is a solid choice.

AWeber Pricing

Free plan up to 500 subscribers
Paid plans starting from $19/month

7. GetResponse – Best for Marketing Automation

Originally a suite of email marketing tools, GetResponse has expanded into a well-rounded marketing automation platform.

It caters nicely to small businesses with limited marketing resources. Features include:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor
300+ optimized templates
Webinars, forms, landing pages
eCommerce functionality
Sales CRM and funnel builder
Generous free plan (up to 1,000 contacts)

GetResponse keeps improving their platform with more built-in tools for small business marketing. It reduces the need for multiple systems and subscriptions.

It’s an excellent choice for solopreneurs and small teams wanting marketing automation capabilities.

GetResponse Pricing

Free plan up to 1,000 contacts
Paid plans starting at $15/month

8. Mailchimp – Easiest to Get Started

It‘s impossible to leave Mailchimp off any list of top email marketing platforms. The features are decent, but it‘s the generosity of their free plan that appeals to many.

You get access to core features like:

Intuitive drag-and-drop builder
Good selection of templates
Basic automations
Great analytics
Free plan with up to 2,000 subscribers

Mailchimp has a reputation for being very easy to use for beginners. And the free plan allows you to build a sizeable audience.

Just be mindful that their free plan isn‘t as generous with automations and some advanced features. But it continues to be an excellent starting point for new email marketers.

Mailchimp Pricing

Forever free plan up to 2,000 subscribers
Paid plans starting at $11/month

9. Benchmark – Best for Personalization

Benchmark stands out for its excellent behavioral personalization capabilities.

It lets you customize newsletter content for each subscriber based on their location, purchase history, page visits and more.

Other notable features:

Easy drag and drop editor
Minimal templates but good customization options
Powerful segmentation tools
Automations with unique triggers
Free CRM and landing pages

Benchmark caters best to ecommerce brands that want to deliver highly personalized messaging and recommendations across newsletters, onsite and email.

Benchmark Pricing

14-day Free Trial
Paid plans start from $99/month

10. Omnisend – Best for Ecommerce

As the name suggests, Omnisend is purpose-built for ecommerce stores. From the platform design to advanced automations, it streamlines email and SMS campaigns.

Standout features for online retailers:

Visually rich templates
Abandoned cart automations
Customer win-back campaigns
Behavioral personalization
SMS capabilities
Product recommendations
Order notifications

If you sell products online, Omnisend helps drive more sales through targeted email and SMS campaigns.

Omnisend Pricing

Free plan for up to 2,000 contacts
Paid plans starting at $20/month

11. Mailerbit – Most Affordable

If budget is a primary concern but you still want quality features, Mailerbit balances both.

It‘s one of the most affordable paid platforms available. Yet still equips you with necessities like:

Responsive drag-and-drop editor
250+ templates
Automations
Basic analytics
Landing pages

While cheaper than most rivals, Mailerbit does lack some advanced functionality like SMS, personalization, and CRM capabilities.

But for simple newsletters on a tight budget, it shines through as a value option.

Mailerbit Pricing

Paid plans starting from $8.95/month

12. Sender – Best New Free Platform

One of the newest players, Sender differs from other free platforms in that it has no subscriber limits. Only email volume limits apply.

It‘s packed with features despite no monthly cost:

Easy drag-and-drop editor
Great templates for different niches
Automations with unique triggers
Powerful analytics
No subscriber limits

The free plan allows 15,000 emails per month which is ample for startups and smaller businesses wanting an unrestricted platform.

For the generous offering at no cost, Sender is appealing to budget-conscious companies.

Sender Pricing

Free plan with 15,000 emails per month
Paid plans start from $6.66/month

Choosing the Best Platform for Your Needs

All platforms have their own pros, cons and pricing models.

Determine which features are essential to you before deciding. For example:

Budget – Free or paid plan?
Audience size – Current and expected list size
Use case – Simple newsletters or advanced automations?
Industry – Specific tool for ecommerce or creators?

Most platforms offer free trials so you can experience them firsthand.

Testing different options is wise to determine what best suits your specific needs and budget.

No platform will ever be perfect. But picking the right solution gets you 75% there. And saves endless hours trying to force a tool not fit for purpose.