MailChimp has been a standout platform for email marketing and has an easy-to-use interface, along with a wide variety of features that make it a popular choice. However, even though the software has a number of features and works well for a variety of different businesses, it is not for everyone, and there are some alternatives to use.
1. GetResponse
GetResponse has a lot of similar features as MailChimp, including the drop-and-drag email composer, list segmentation, and autorepsonder campaigns. However, MailChimp is focused on simplicity and GetResponse is more focused on some other features for those who want something more advanced. Some of these advanced features include a landing page builder, pop ups for exit intent, and fully capable CRM functionality. These advanced features don’t make the software hard to use; it is still easy to use much like MailChimp is. GetResponse is a good standalone email marketing system.
2. Sparkpost
Sparkpost offered a solution to some of MailChimp’s subscribers when MailChimp changed how it was operating in March 2016. Before March 2016, MailChimp users could use the transactional email service Mandrill. After the change, this service was no longer going to be available as a standalone service and users would have to pay for more a full-fledged account. This service was popular and many business use transactional emails, so it left people looking for an alterative. This alternative was Sparkpost. Sparkpost honored the existing terms of Mandrill contracts, so it became the Mandrill alternative. This platform has APIs for different software integrations and an active developer community. As an email platform, it offers some of the highest delivery rates in the email marketing industry. There are other features to help improve email marketing, which makes it a good alternative to MailChimp and not just a way to use Mandrill.
3. ActiveCampaign
This system makes it easy to manage marketing automation functions and also has a fully functional CRM. Easily set up A/B test emails, lead scoring, and automation campaigns, without wanting to pull your hair out. ActiveCampaign has more features for marketing automation than MailChimp does, and with the automation and contact management features, it is most useful to B2B organizations. However, since it’s easy to use and function, any marketer can use it regardless of the industry.
4. Maropost
MailChimp is really designed for small to medium sized business, so those who work for larger businesses need a more robust platform. For those looking for a more robust platform, this is where Maropost can be a good choice. This software offers the same email marketing functionality as MailChimp, which includes split testing and send time optimization. The difference is that Maropost is designed to support a higher sending volume than many other email marketing platforms. It can also connect the email marketing data it compiles with an ecommerce system or point of sale system by using a customizable database. There are other integrations available for CRM system, such as Oracle and Salesforce, so you really are getting an email platform that is meant for scaling. MailChimp isn’t quite built for scalability like Maropost is.
5. AWeber
AWeber includes the normal email marketing features that are easy to use and well rounded. They have a visual email editor, as well as list segmentation options. However, what makes AWeber different from the rest is its mobile features. The app from this software is a mobile form capture, which is great for allowing businesses to collect emails during the point of purchase. The stats app will let you see multiple reports all from a mobile device, which makes it a great choice for business owners that are constantly on the go.
6. Emma
Constructing a well-designed email isn’t easy, and creating an HTML template from the beginning can be a difficult and time-consuming process. Being able to work within the design template sets apart a lot of email marketing software platforms. There aren’t a lot of platforms that will match the quality of design for the templates in Emma. Not only is there a lot of attention to detail in the email templates, but there is also the same attention to detail in many of the features. There is a lightbox function that makes for a great email capture form, the dashboard allows you to visualize your email data, and you can also code each email’s metrics into a single mailing score to give you an easy look at which email is doing the best.
7.HubSpot
Besides the normal email marketing and automation features, one of the best features HubSpot offers is an inbound marketing training series that is free and available through HubSpot Academy. These features not only train you on the software, making it even easier to use, but also on best marketing practices. Many users describe these courses as easy for absorbing information and a great way to learn about the methodology to improve their own strategies. Another great feature this software has is the responsiveness of the customer service team. The tracking and analytics capabilities are also top notch. Many users like to see the ROI for their marking activities, and the dashboard can be easier to read than with MailChimp. There is more in-depth reporting, which includes lead source web traffic, as well as email marketing and blog performance, which is great to have in one platform. MailChimp does not show all these analytics. The drag-and-drop features for customizing emails and landing pages aren’t as easy as with MailChimp and often require some CSS knowledge There are frequent updates that make using the platform a little difficult at times. If you want to switch platforms, it becomes harder with HubSpot than it is with other platforms, such as MailChimp.
8. Constant Contact
Constant Contact is not a marketing automation tool, but it is offered as an alternative to MailChimp because of its email marketing abilities. It is one of the most popular email marketing programs and users describe it as a powerful email marketing tool. It’s easy to segment lists with the platform and it makes it easy to merge duplicates, so you can’t send the same email twice. You can also set up events and registration. The reporting is pretty comparable to MailChimp, with statistics on how many emails are opened, who is opening them, what they are clicking on, and who is opting out. The templates are a little difficult to edit and there are some limits on what can be changed. It can be hard to create a custom template and users can have trouble sizing images or placing them. The system does require you to prove how recipients subscribed to the list. For example, if users subscribed with a paper sign up sheet, you have to upload it. This can be harder for lists that are older and businesses that don’t have this information anymore. MailChimp does not have this feature, making it easier to upload a list.
9. Marketing 360
Marketing 360 is more than just software. There is also a service part to it that combines a marketing agency with the marketing automation software. This software is aimed at small and midsized business just like MailChimp is. Since there is a marketing agency element to this software, it does differ quite a bit from MailChimp. Setting up and getting familiar with the software can take longer than with MailChimp and other alternatives. The experience with the software weighs heavily on whether the Marketing 360 pro is good and takes time to understand the marketing needs of the business. The reporting dashboard is helpful and it will display easy-to-understand performance metrics, so that users can see which marketing channel is working the best for them.
10. Infusionsoft
Infusionsoft is designed for small businesses and helps a lot of the same businesses that would also use MailChimp. There are different software types for a number of business needs, including email marketing software, landing page software, lead management software, and real estate agency software. The software has a lot of features, including a customizable online shopping cart and storefront, and different forms that can be embedded on the website. The campaign builder is more flexible and powerful than some other systems and it allows you to create campaigns based on user behavior on the site. It will automate items, such as sending out cards and letters to customers and sending push notifications for milestones in the sales pipeline. There are more integrations available to make it easy to do pretty much whatever you need it to do. Even though there are a lot of integration options, sometimes it is not always easier to make them work and users have to find developers outside of Infusionsoft. This is unlike MailChimp, which doesn’t have as many integrations but can be easier to use.
11. Robly
Robly is the only email marketing software that guarantees businesses that switch to their system will see an increase in opens by 50%. In order to do this, the company uses data science to deliver the emails to customers when they are going to be likely to open them and will automatically resend emails that users don’t open with new subject lines. This feature differs from MailChimp. Many users of the software say that this sending functionality, along with the ease of use, makes the software great. It’s not the best when it comes to mobile responsive templates, however. Unlike MailChimp and other options, there isn’t the ability to send birthday and anniversary messages and there isn’t event functionality. There also aren’t as many integrations available. It also doesn’t offer separate logins when multiple users are working on the same account.
12. Omnisend
Omnisend is an omnichannel marketing automation tool for ecommerce. With one tool you can reach your customers via email, SMS, Facebook Messenger and even Web Push notifications. You can add all of these channels directly within your automation workflows for a seamless message. As opposed to Mailchimp, Omnisend is oriented for ecommerce business. Deep integrations with ecommerce platforms let’s you track important customer behavior for personalized automation workflows, contact forms, and landing pages without any programming skills.
Jon Dykstra is a six figure niche site creator with 10+ years of experience. His willingness to openly share his wins and losses in the email newsletter he publishes has made him a go-to source of guidance and motivation for many. His popular “Niche site profits” course has helped thousands follow his footsteps in creating simple niche sites that earn big.
