10 Best Email Newsletter Platforms: Ultimate Guide

15.11.2023
Read time: 13 min
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10 Best Email Newsletter Platforms: Ultimate Guide
Try Publicate For Free Today
02.03.2022
Read time: 13 min

In the evolving landscape of digital marketing, email newsletters remain an indispensable tool. Choosing the right newsletter platform can significantly elevate your brand's outreach.

Dive into our guide as we unravel the best platforms, including key benefits and how they fit into the broader scheme of email marketing.

Guide Index

What is an Email Newsletter?

Have you ever received an email from a brand or blog, updating you about their latest happenings, insights, or offers?

That, right there, is an email newsletter. It's less of a "Hey, buy this!" and more of a "Here's what's new with us." It's the digital equivalent of a monthly magazine subscription but tailored to your interests.

For businesses, email newsletters are a smooth and consistent way to keep in touch with their audience without coming off too strong. For subscribers, it's a great way to stay informed and often get a front-row seat to exclusive content or promotions.

Close-up image of a screen showing apps, including the Mail app showing 2 notifications
Picture from Unsplash

What is an Email Newsletter Platform?

Let's say you work at a company, and you've got this brilliant idea for a newsletter. You're excited, but there's a catch: how do you send it out to hundreds or thousands of subscribers efficiently?

That's where an email newsletter platform steps in. It’s a tool that helps companies craft, send out, and manage those newsletters efficiently and with maximum engagement.

Think of it as the behind-the-scenes magic. Not only can you design snazzy emails, but you can also keep an organized list of your subscribers, see who's engaging with your content, and even segment your audience for more personalized messaging.

However, in some cases, an entire newsletter platform is overkill, and you just are looking for a solution to design and build a branded email and use your existing email service provider to send it out. An integrated email builder like Publicate makes that possible!

And guess what? Email builders are cost effective and have advanced features thrown in, plus many offer hundreds of free templates ready for use. It's about ensuring every piece of content lands just right with its intended reader.

Why Use an Email Newsletter Platform?

Imagine having a valuable message to share with your audience. While a straightforward email might do the trick, what if you could package it beautifully, track who interacts with it, and ensure it speaks directly to each recipient?

That's where email newsletter platforms come into play, serving as more than just email senders, but as tools to forge genuine and long-lasting connections.

1. Efficient Design & Management

The first impression is vital, right? With a newsletter platform, you're not just sending out plain text emails. Instead, you’re given a palette of drag and drop design tools and hundreds of fully customizable templates to make your content visually compelling.

Whether you're a design newbie or a seasoned pro, these platforms adapt to your needs.

And once the newsletter is out in the digital world? With your email builder, you gain insights and metrics such as click-through rates, open rates, and heatmaps to understand subscriber engagement and optimize your newsletters for success.

2. Integration with Existing Tools

Transitioning to a new platform can be daunting. But here's a secret: you don't need to toss out your trusted tools. Many newsletter platforms are designed to play well with others.

Whether you’re tied to a CRM system, deeply integrated with an e-commerce platform, email service provider or reliant on other business tools, there's likely an email platform ready to fit right in. For example, Publicate integrates directly with Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Zapier, WordPress and more!

The keyword here? Integration. By merging the best of both worlds – your existing tools and a new platform – you create a powerful, streamlined marketing ecosystem.

A woman working on her laptop
Picture from Unsplash

How to Choose an Email Newsletter Platform?

The digital landscape is teeming with newsletter platforms, each promising the moon and stars. How do you pick the one that's just right for your needs?

Well, like any important decision, it boils down to understanding what you truly require and then matching those needs to what's on offer.

1. Features & Scalability

Starting out, basic features like design templates and subscriber management might suffice. But as your audience grows and your campaigns become more intricate, you'll crave advanced tools.

Publicate’s email builder is based on drag-and-drop functionality. With a built-in image editor, anyone can resize and crop images to fit directly into the template the way you’d wish to see it.

Additionally, Publicate allows you to export HTML emails to Gmail, Outlook, and other popular email service providers with the click of a button. And, once you hit send, you gain analytics to see how your newsletter is faring in the land of inboxes.

It's essential to anticipate your future needs and choose a platform that'll scale with you, ensuring today's solution doesn't become tomorrow's limitation.

2. Cost & Usability

Who doesn't love free stuff? The best free email marketing platforms can be tempting, and they do offer solid baseline features. But as the saying goes, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Always weigh the long-term costs against the benefits. Will you outgrow the free tier? Are there hidden charges?

On the flip side, a platform could be feature-rich but a nightmare to navigate. Always prioritize user-friendliness. After all, the best tools are those that empower you, not hinder you. For example,

A newsletter builder like Publicate makes it easy for anyone to use (there’s no need for coders or designers).

With an hundreds of engaging templates to choose from and drag-and-drop functionality, you can create branded emails in little time and then export to your favorite email service provider like Gmail or Outlook.

What are the Best Email Newsletter Platforms?

In today's digital age, where communication is paramount, the need for effective newsletter platforms is more pronounced than ever. With so many options available, each with its unique offerings, the decision-making process can be overwhelming.

To help streamline your choice, we've curated a list of some of the best players in the field.

1. Publicate

When discussing top-tier newsletter platforms, Publicate has its own special spot on the list because it’s an email builder that’s compatible with your favorite email service providers.

Whether you’re a novice or expert, Publicate provides a no-code email builder with an intuitive design interface, making the complex newsletter creation process into a seamless experience.

All you have to do is choose your template, start customizing, and then export to your chosen platform to send out your newsletters. Once you do, you will receive detailed analytics of how your campaign performs.

Beyond this, Publicate offers a robust set of features, including responsive design capabilities ensuring optimal display on any device. Additionally, it allows you to upload multimedia into its content library, or choose from thousands of royalty-free images. Plus, with link scraping, you can create curated content newsletters with ease.

Publicate is not just another platform – it's a comprehensive solution that stands out in the crowded market and focuses on maximising engagement and ease of use.

2. Mailchimp

Mailchimp has carved a reputation for its user-friendly templates and comprehensive analytics suite. Their marketing automation tools are top-notch, helping businesses send personalized campaigns.

While it's a favorite among many, startups and smaller businesses might find their budget stretched with its pricing structure – especially when needing more advanced features.

3. ConvertKit

Designed with creators in mind, ConvertKit champions with its exceptional automation and audience segmentation features. It's also notable for its landing page creation tools, aiding in lead capture.

That said, its pricing can be a bit on the higher side, and newcomers might take some time to navigate its functionalities effectively.

4. Brevo

Diversifying its offerings, Brevo doesn't just stop at email; it ventures into SMS campaigns, opening up a new channel of communication. Its automation prowess is commendable, helping in timely engagement.

However, some design aficionados might feel restricted due to a limited template variety – craving for more design flexibility.

5. ActiveCampaign

Tailored for businesses seeking an all-encompassing solution, ActiveCampaign, with its integrated CRM functionalities, serves as an ideal choice. Their messaging is spot-on with personalization.

On the flip side, its multifaceted features can seem daunting to the uninitiated, and there's a noticeable learning curve involved.

6. HubSpot

A behemoth in the CRM world, HubSpot also excels in the email marketing domain. Their analytics provide a deep dive into campaign performance.

While newbies will appreciate its user-centric design, the platform's cost, particularly at higher tiers, can be a substantial investment for some businesses.

7. GetResponse

Versatility defines GetResponse. From email marketing to hosting webinars, it's a multifunctional platform. Their automation workflows are intuitive, helping in crafting personalized paths. But, in the vast sea of features, some users feel that its analytics aren't as granular as they'd like.

8. Constant Contact

A darling for those who appreciate simplicity, Constant Contact has a great drag-and-drop editor, especially for those without design experience. Their event management tool is an added bonus. However, when it comes to sophisticated automation capabilities, the platform leaves room for improvement.

9. Benchmark

Focused on aesthetics, Benchmark offers an array of design-centric templates, ensuring your newsletters are nothing short of captivating. They also pride themselves on deliverability rates. But, while they nail the basics, seasoned marketers might yearn for more advanced audience segmentation tools.

10. AWeber

Consistency and reliability define AWeber. With its strong customer support backbone and a rich selection of templates, it's a favorite for many.

They also offer a comprehensive library of stock images, adding flair to newsletters. However, for those on the prowl for cutting-edge automation, AWeber might seem a tad behind the curve.

With this landscape of options, choosing the right platform aligns closely with understanding your specific needs and the unique value each provider brings. Whether it's advanced analytics, seamless integrations, or design flexibility, there's a platform tailored to every requirement.

Wrap Up

Choosing one of the many newsletter platforms is pivotal for effective email marketing. While numerous newsletter websites promise results, it's essential to pick one that aligns with your brand's needs.

Prioritize design, integration, and usability, ensuring your newsletters not only reach inboxes but also resonate and engage with the audience.

To get started with Publicate, trial our email builder today for free!