Low cost email marketing is a great way to stay connected with your audience and drive online sales with a minimal investment. It is easy to get started, and you don't need a large budget to see success. You can start your email marketing strategy with a low budget and small audience. By consistently adding value to your email, you'll earn more clicks and sales over time. An Ecommerce email platform can help you get started without a high cost. Email marketing is the best way to reach customers who have already shown an interest in your brand. This blog post explains how to use email marketing to drive more sales on your website without spending a lot.
Is Email Marketing Considered Low Cost?
Email marketing is a low-cost practice compared to other marketing tactics, such as paid advertising. Here's why:
Minimal Production Costs
Unlike traditional advertising which involves significant costs for print media or ads, email marketing primarily involves digital creation, which is less expensive. The costs are limited to designing the email and maintaining the email list.
Affordable Platforms
Numerous email marketing platforms offer cost-effective solutions. These platforms often provide tiered pricing structures, including free plans for small businesses or those just starting with limited subscriber lists. This enables companies to scale their email marketing efforts affordably as they grow.
Reduced Distribution Costs
The cost to send an email to a large list is significantly lower than the cost to reach the same number of people via direct mail or other forms of advertising. Email eliminates the need for postage, printing, and distribution fees associated with physical marketing materials.
High Return on Investment (ROI)
Email marketing is known for delivering a high ROI. Industry studies indicate that businesses can expect an average return of $42 for every dollar spent on email marketing. This high ROI is attributed to the direct and personal nature of email, which fosters strong customer engagement and conversion rates.
22 Low Cost Email Marketing Services For A Tight Budget
1. Mailsplash: All-in-one Email Solution
Mailsplash is an AI-powered tool that allows users to create stunning email templates that convert in minutes. This all-in-one email solution enables freelancers, brands, and agencies to create personalized rapidly, converting email campaigns at a lower cost than traditional marketing agencies. Users can design and create email templates for campaigns, flows, and all other email-related needs and send them with any email service provider, such as Mailchimp or Klaviyo.
Mailsplash is a great option for businesses on a tight budget that want to boost their bottom line with effective email marketing strategies.
2. Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
Brevo offers a good compromise between the expense it requires and the service that is simple to use and complete in the functions it provides. Brevo also has a well-developed CRM section and offers excellent automation, integration, and segmentation possibilities, representing the real competitive advantage over other platforms. The interface can be more complicated than other services like Mailchimp).
It is also an excellent tool for SMS marketing. You can create emails using a range of templates. Brevo allows you to create custom workflows that send emails automatically. You can even use your contact’s behavior on your website to trigger emails. For example, you could send an automated email if a customer adds an item to their cart but fails to check it.
Pros
Deliver time-sensitive information quickly
Advanced Automation included in freemium
Track all customer interactions on one platform
Cons
Support can be slow
Bad deliverability rate.
Limited freemium and lite plan.
Bad Drag and drop options.
Pricing
Brevo offers an entirely free account for up to 300 emails per day and receive unlimited contacts. If you do want to send more emails than that, paid plans start at $ 25/month.
3. ActiveCampaign
Small businesses and startups can opt for ActiveCampaign, an inexpensive Email Marketing platform that is easy to use and has several specific functions for SMEs. This platform has a CRM system to manage leads and automatically organize sales and marketing. Process automation is a point in favor of Active Campaign which presents ground-breaking, informative reports that tell users what is working in their email marketing efforts and what isn’t.
What makes ActiveCampaign an excellent email marketing service to look into is how it filters the customer experience acquisition process. The platform’s official website filters potential users by industry, product, and role. This allows the platform to completely customize your email marketing service needs depending on who you are and what you seek.
Pros
Built-in sales CRM stores customer data that can be used to market right back to them
Powerful, easy-to-set-up automation can run long-term campaigns from start to finish
Nearly 1,000 integrations with other apps and services give new meaning to the word “Ominchannel”
Con
Reporting could use more financial metrics to measure the cost and effectiveness of advertising better
Pricing
ActiveCampaign's pricing starts at $29 and it unlocks advanced features like segmentation and flows.
4. Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a comprehensive marketing automation platform for small and large businesses. It offers robust features that enable digital marketers to attract, nurture, and convert leads to returning customers. The cloud-based marketing solution uses AI-powered features to improve email content while streamlining customer engagement.
Mailchimp has a robust integrations directory, allowing you to connect with apps like Wix, Stripe, Square, Shopify, Help Scout, Databox, etc.
User-Friendly Marketing with Mailchimp
Although Mailchimp is an advanced marketing tool, it is also a user-friendly platform that allows beginners and experienced marketers to deliver highly targeted and personalized campaigns. Like HubSpot, Mailchimp provides a comprehensive knowledge base to guide new users through all necessary processes.
User-Friendly Marketing with Mailchimp
Mailchimp offers chat, email, and phone support. It also has an AI-powered chatbot that provides quick answers to regular queries. Dedicated and assisted onboarding support is only available on higher plans.
Pros
Mailchimp is an advanced marketing automation platform
It supports a one-month trial period and other affordable options for smaller businesses
It is beginner-friendly
It supports multivariate and A/B testing
Cons
Phone support is only available on higher plans
Email scheduling is not available on the free plan
The free plan includes Mailchimp branding
Pricing
Mailchimp offers a free plan that includes 1,000 monthly emails and 500 contacts. Prices start at $13 for 500 contacts for higher limits and more features.
5. ConvertKit
ConvertKit is an email platform targeting online creatives like bloggers and YouTubers. Its email marketing features include the ability to segment your list and personalize campaigns using tags, as well as A/B testing for subject lines.
Boost Conversions with Customizable Landing Pages and Signup Forms
You can grow your audience with customizable landing page templates and signup forms designed to increase conversions. And if you’re using downloadable content as an incentive, it’s easy to send materials automatically after someone fills out your form.
Effortless Email Drip Campaigns with ConvertKit’s Automation Software
ConvertKit’s automation software provides a visual way to set up email drip campaigns powered by subscriber behavior. The workflow editor shows you what your sequences look like in action and makes altering the path subscribers take easy. And if you need help getting started, there are automation templates for use cases like webinars and product launches.
All plans let you send unlimited emails and provide live chat and email support. For paid plans, pricing is based on the number of subscribers you have.
ConvertKit offers advanced automation capabilities, allowing users to create complex workflows and trigger emails based on subscriber actions.
ConvertKit prioritizes email deliverability, ensuring your messages reach subscribers' inboxes.
Cons
ConvertKit offers fewer customization options for email templates and landing pages than other email marketing platforms.
As your subscriber list grows, ConvertKit's pricing can become more expensive than other providers.
Pricing
The free plan lets you have up to 300 subscribers. After that, prices start at $15 per month for 300 contacts and more advanced features.
6. MailerLite
MailerLite is another email marketing service covering beginner needs. You can create any kind of email campaign with their drag-and-drop editor. You can also grow your email list with signup forms, create dedicated landing pages, and even a whole website with their website builder. Transactional emails can be sent through a third party, MailerSend.
Email Automation and Personalization with MailerLite
MailerLite also offers email automation and personalization based on user behavior. Abandoned cart emails are available for Shopify and WooCommerce stores. Contact management and segmentation are also covered.
Optimize Campaigns with A/B Testing and Performance Analytics
A/B testing and smart delivery by time zone features let you optimize campaign results. MailerLite also has reports and analytics to track your performance.
MailerLite has a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails.
Pros
Generous free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers
Intuitive drag-and-drop email editor and landing page builder
Excellent email deliverability and affordable paid plans
Cons
Limited email sending on the free plan (12,000 per month)
Lacks advanced features like AI-powered automation and reporting
Customer support quality can be inconsistent at times
Pricing
The free plan allows you to send 12,000 emails per month to 1,000 contacts. Paid plans start at $10 per month for 500 subscribers.
7. Klaviyo
Klaviyo mainly caters to online shops. It provides SMS and advanced email functionality for marketers looking to increase revenue. Their editor is easy to use and there are ready-made responsive templates available. You can personalize emails with product recommendations and dynamic blocks.
Klaviyo tracks website interactions and events that you can use for emails, automation and segmentation. All customer data goes into individual profiles, a CRM, where you can dive deeper into understanding buyers. Klaviyo also offers advanced reporting capabilities. In addition to a metrics dashboard, it provides customized benchmarks for your business.
Pros
Klaviyo's ability to leverage customer data enables highly personalized email campaigns.
Klaviyo's automated workflows and triggered emails save time and ensure timely customer communication.
Klaviyo provides comprehensive analytics to track campaign performance and drive data-driven decisions.
Cons
Due to its extensive features, Klaviyo may have a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners.
Klaviyo can be relatively more expensive compared to some other email marketing solutions
Pricing
The free plan includes 500 emails per month for 250 contacts. Paid plan prices start at $20 per month for 500 contacts.
8. AWeber — Best for bloggers
AWeber’s email marketing platform has some handy tools for beginners. On top of a drag-and-drop editor and an extensive library of email templates, the platform offers an AI-powered design assistant. This tool uses your website and social media accounts to build on-brand templates for your business’ email newsletters automatically.
Efficient Customer Engagement with Tags and Automation
AWeber makes it simple to connect with individual customers at scale using tags you can add manually or automatically. For example, you can tag subscribers based on signup information or when they open an email or click a link. Email automation features let you run your campaigns on autopilot, including drip campaigns for welcoming subscribers or launching a new product. The campaign marketplace offers pre-made workflows with email templates for each campaign stage to save you time.
Customizable Templates and Easy Landing Page Creation
All you have to do is customize them to your brand and target audience. Elsewhere, there’s a drag-and-drop landing page builder with ready-to-use templates and a gallery of stock images to create attractive pages quickly. All templates include signup forms and you can automatically tag subscribers from each form to better manage your lists.
AWeber’s pricing is based on your subscriber count and all plans include chat, email, and phone support.
Pros
AWeber is known for its ease of use and friendly user interface.
AWeber offers a wide range of email templates for newsletters, blog broadcasts, and landing pages.
AWeber provides reliable customer support through various channels, including live chat and phone assistance.
Cons
AWeber charges for hosting unsubscribed contacts on your account, which can increase costs.
AWeber's automation capabilities are considered basic compared to some competitors, lacking advanced marketing automation features.
Some users find AWeber's interface and design to be somewhat dated compared to newer email marketing tools
Pricing
The free plan includes 3,000 emails for up to 500 subscribers. After that, prices start at $14.99 per month for the pro version.
9. Mailmodo
Mailmodo is a tool you can use in your business to create and send interactive emails that let users take action instantly right inside their emails. For example, you can fill out forms, book meetings on Calendly, complete checkout, etc., right from the email received from a company without opening another page or tab.
More people are inclined to start and complete a process when provided with a call to action button they can click rather than regular static emails. You can provide a web browser experience and curate better marketing strategies within an email. Mailmodo's typical customers are Freelancers, small businesses, large enterprises, and mid-size businesses.
Pros
Better customer engagement with the in-male interaction API.
There is no code, drag and drop editor to create AMP email templates that automatically generate an HTML fallback.
Customizable templates library of over 100 templates according to different use cases.
Affordable pricing doesn’t depend on the number of contacts, so you don’t break your bank while scaling.
Cons
Lacks advanced AMP features like carousels and accordions and cannot include landing pages in their emails.
Abandoned cart or product recommendation widgets can complete checkout steps, but payment requires redirecting to a landing page.
Mailmodo Pricing
Mailmodo pricing is based on the number of emails sent monthly.
10. Hubspot
HubSpot is a popular cloud-based CRM system that offers robust features to help businesses optimize their operations, enhance customer communications, and improve conversions. The email marketing hub supports well-built capabilities for attracting and nurturing leads and building profitable relationships to drive sales.
Extensive Integrations and Advanced Capabilities
HubSpot supports integrations with Databox, Eventbrite, Typeform, Hotjar, Webflow, NeverBounce, Intercom, Unbounce, etc. It is relatively advanced marketing software with complex processes and capabilities.It provides a robust knowledge center with quick-answer documents, community discussions, forums, courses, and user guides, enabling users to find answers and solutions to their queries.
Customization and Support Features in HubSpot Marketing
Multiple customization options enable businesses to create unique templates that match their branding. HubSpot also supports chat, email, and phone support, eliminating the complexities of its marketing system.
Pricing
HubSpot also has a flexible pricing structure for organizations of varying sizes. Small businesses can take advantage of the plans for individual and small teams. The starter plan starts at $15 per month. It supports monthly and annual billing options. Like EngageBay, it supports a free version and a 14-day free trial plan.
Pros
It provides access to an academy with robust educational resources
It is an all-in-one CRM system for all things marketing, sales, and support
It has a comprehensive app marketplace and supports integrations with several their-party applications
It is a scalable system for growing businesses
Cons
The pricing gets expensive too quickly
A/B testing is not supported on lower packages
You may need to pay for technical support
11. GetReponse
GetResponse is a multifunctional email marketing platform that offers email marketing, website builder, and webinar creation features on a single platform. It is helpful for small businesses looking to solve different marketing problems (e.g., cart abandonment campaigns) from a single platform instead of getting multiple subscriptions.
It offers an easy way to make and send promotional, educational, and personalized email campaigns. You can create beautiful newsletters, autoresponders, and automated sequences. You can also set up live and on-demand webinars, create cart abandonment campaigns, and use marketing automation for lead gen, inbound marketing, lead nurturing, and more.
Pros
Prompt support and intuitive documentation
Detailed analytics dashboard
List segmentation and categorization features
Cons
Outdated UI
Simple and outdated email template designs
Pricing plans can get costly as you scale operations
GetResponse Pricing
GetResponse has a budget-friendly pricing for those who don’t need much:
Starts at $16 per month for up to 1000 subscribers (only email marketing features);
The free 30-days plan is also available for up to 500 subscribers (limited use).
12. Drip
Drip is great for e-commerce shops, in part because its intelligent e-commerce automation is high-level but also intuitive for new users to navigate. Its basic plan is only $49/month for 2,500 users, with unlimited email sends and 24/7 support. Some of its larger customers include LiveNation and Trivago.
13. BenchmarkONE
BenchmarkONE was specifically designed with small businesses in mind. The overall email marketing suite includes an intuitive drag-and-drop builder and professionally pre-designed email templates. With a CRM included in one platform, they offer the ability to build your email list like a boss with responsive forms and automation.
BenchmarkONE's Core pricing is $79/month (although you can choose a smaller Lite package at $39/month). The Core package gives you five users, 500 contacts (although you can get more with an increased price), and 2,500 email sends.
14. ActiveTrail
ActiveTrail is a versatile email marketing platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers an intuitive user interface and a wide array of advanced features to streamline email campaign management. Its robust automation capabilities stand out, allowing marketers to set up sophisticated, triggered campaigns easily.
The platform's automation and segmentation capabilities allow for highly personalized and timely communication with audiences, increasing engagement and conversion rates. ActiveTrail's integration with various third-party applications enhances its utility, enabling a seamless data flow across different marketing tools. With competitive pricing and exceptional customer support, ActiveTrail presents a cost-effective solution for businesses aiming to maximize their email marketing efforts efficiently and easily.
15. Omnisend
Omnisend is an all-in-one email marketing & SMS tool. It helps to automate your marketing across the entire customer journey—reaching the right audience with the right message at the right time. With extra features relevant to eCommerce marketing campaigns, advanced automation, and marketing workflows, Omnisend is an all-around eCommerce and email tool.
16. Retainful
Retainful is a useful ecommerce email marketing platform with all the necessary features without being overly complicated or confusing.
Retainful helps businesses build customized automation with a built-in, ready-to-customize customer journey builder and an easy-to-use email editor to increase customer engagement. Campaigns can be set up without any coding knowledge. The interface is easy to use and intuitive and includes resources for any questions during the process.
17. Moosend
Moosend is an affordable email marketing service for small businesses. It has powerful marketing automation features, email list-building tools, landing pages, and more. You can quickly create an email newsletter and customize the email design to match your brand within minutes by choosing from their dozens of pre-made email templates or creating a completely custom template.
The nice part about Moosend is that they offer marketing automation features to all plans. You can use their automation workflow designer to create a personalized subscriber journey for your newsletter subscribers. Moosend offers detailed email analytics that show you important metrics such as email opens, clicks, bounces, product views, purchases, custom event tracking, and even predicted demographic data.
18. OptinMonster
OptinMonster is one of the best conversion optimization software platforms on the market. It allows you to convert website visitors into email subscribers and customers easily.
It comes with easy-to-integrating lightbox popups, slide-in modules, mats, coupon wheels, and more. OptinMonster works with all popular email marketing services and quickly gets more subscribers for your email list. It has many features that help you automatically target users and show them personalized campaigns. For example, you can show targeted messages for different pages on your site. You can also show campaigns based on user activity and geographic location.
19. SMTP
When it comes to email deliverability, very few service providers achieve consistently amazing results like SMTP’s. Its high delivery rates have propelled it to the top among industry leaders. So, it comes as no surprise that over 100,000 businesses worldwide have entrusted their email delivery to SMTP in the past two decades.
Reputation and Infrastructure
SMTP is an email marketing software agency under the MarTech umbrella of digital media giant Ziff Davis, Inc. Over the years, it has earned a stellar reputation for its solid and scalable infrastructure that ensures servers stay off blacklists and emails are delivered successfully into subscriber inboxes.
Client Services and Support
All SMTP clients receive detailed reporting, an email relay API, and reliable support from an in-house team of experts. Add-on services include the Reputation Defender, dedicated IP, and on-demand statistics aggregation. Satisfied clients have reported significant improvements in deliverability, brand engagement, and customer retention.
20. RedCappi
Simplicity is the name of the game for RedCappi. The platform has a really simple interface with drag-and-drop elements to help you build your emails quickly. You can also use the built-in automated email schedules to send out your emails when your audience is most engaged. On top of this, you can personalize your emails and A/B test campaigns to see what performs best.
It’s free to have up to 100 subscribers. After that, prices start at $10 per month for 500 contacts.
21. EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus is all about simplicity and helping businesses engage with their subscribers consistently and meaningfully. A range of simple template designs for various industries ensures your emails look professional, while easy-to-use automation features let you communicate beyond newsletters. There is also smart analytics you can track and measure your email campaign results in real time.
If you have less than 2,500 subscribers and send less than 10,000 emails per month, you can sign up for the free plan. Otherwise, higher-volume paid plans start at $24 per month.
22. Sinch Mailjet
With Sinch Mailjet’s range of easy-to-use features, you can create meaningful emails that engage your subscribers. Design responsive emails using pre-made templates in just a few clicks, manage and segment your audience to send the right message to the right people, and monitor your campaign results with advanced insights.
The free plan lets you send up to 6,000 emails a month or 200 emails per day. Want to send more? The basic paid plan starts at $15 monthly for 15,000 emails and no daily sending limit. Like Brevo, Sinch Mailjet bases its pricing on the number of subscribers you have. It’s a high-quality option for cheap email marketing software.
Complete Step-by-Step Guide On How To Use Mailsplash’s All-in-one AI Email Solution
Getting Started: Uploading Brands and Products
Before you can generate an email, you’ll need to upload a brand and product.
Navigate to the “Brands” tab and select “Add a Brand”. Once you’ve defined the brand’s name, logo(s), font(s), and color(s), you can upload your product(s).
You can do so by simply pasting in the product link, which will auto-populate the product description, name, and images, as seen below. Now you’re ready to design and write stunning emails with Mailsplash.
Design & Write Emails with Mailsplash: A Guide
Generate with AI
Not sure where to start? From your dashboard, click “Generate with AI” to get to ideating. Simply select the brand(s) and product(s) you’ve uploaded and describe the email you’re looking for (e.g. an email campaign promoting new pants on sale for 25% off). You can even define the design style you’re looking for!
If you’re feeling like a pro, click “Advanced Setup” to get more detailed access to other parameters such as your target audience, the type of email, and so on. Once you’re happy, click generate and watch the magic happen! In 30 seconds or less, you’ll have a email custom-tailored to your input.
Start from Template
Already know what kind of email you’re looking to create? You can then click “Start from Template” and browse through our gallery of templates, curated for the most common use cases. We currently support 21 templates for 7 different categories, but will be continuing to update this based on your feedback! Once you select an email type, you’ll be prompted to select a brand and product and be taken straight to the builder.
Sending Emails: Integrate with Any ESP
When exporting your email generation, you’ll be able to integrate with Klaviyo by inputting your API key. It’s as simple as that. We’re working on adding support for other major ESPs!
Now you should be well-equipped to save time and money on your email marketing.
Still confused? Have feedback? Let us know by sending us an email.
How To Choose The Right Email Marketing Software For Your Business
1. Define Your Goals And Budget
First and foremost, you should have a specific strategy before starting email marketing. Determine your goals, budget, subscriber count, and the type of emails you want to send. Consider whether you need promotional, transactional, or both emails. Evaluate different email marketing platforms based on your objectives and budget. Also, pay attention to the email templates available on each platform to ensure they match your brand's style.
2. Check Your Existing Stack
Consider how an email marketing platform integrates with your other marketing tools. Look for platforms that offer integrations with other eCommerce and marketing tools, such as CRM, to create a seamless experience. Check if the platforms you currently use have native integrations with the email tools you are considering. If not, ensure you can connect them easily via API.
3. Sync With Your Teammates
It is crucial to ensure that your email marketing platform is user-friendly. Request a free trial before deciding to test the platform's usability. If multiple team members will be using the tool, let them try it out to ensure it meets their needs. Consider choosing a platform with collaboration features for better results.
Rapid Email Campaign Creation
Mailsplash is an AI-powered tool to create stunning email templates that convert. Design and create stunning/converting emails (campaigns, flows, all of it) in minutes. Send with any email service provider (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, etc.). We enable freelancers, brands, and agencies to create personalized rapidly, converting email campaigns at lower cost than traditional marketing agencies, from email copywriting, to personalized branded email template design.
Tips For Starting Email Marketing For Your Business
1. Build Your Email List
You must build a solid email list to start your email marketing campaign. Collect customer email addresses at the point of sale or through a sign-up form on your website. Offering incentives like discounts or freebies in exchange for email addresses can encourage more sign-ups. Obtaining explicit consent from subscribers before adding them to your list is crucial to comply with privacy regulations and ensure that your emails are welcomed.
2. Create Engaging Content
Developing engaging content is key to a successful email marketing campaign. Create content for emails that include product updates, promotions, newsletters, and other relevant information. Ensure that your emails are visually appealing, easy to read, and mobile-friendly as many subscribers use smartphones to check their emails. Personalize your emails by using subscribers' names and other relevant information to make them more engaging.
3. Segment Your Audience
Segmenting your email list is essential to sending targeted and relevant emails to each audience segment. Segment your list based on subscribers' demographics, interests, and past purchases. Experiment with different types of emails such as promotional, newsletters, and transactional campaigns to see what works best for each segment.
4. Use Attention-Grabbing Subject Lines
Subject lines are the first thing subscribers see when they receive your emails. Writing compelling and informative subject lines that grab subscribers' attention is crucial to improving open rates. Keep your subject lines relevant to the email content and test different variations to see what works best with your audience.
5. Automate Your Campaigns
Automating your email campaigns can save you time and help improve your email marketing results. Set up automated email campaigns for messages, abandoned carts, browse abandonment, and other customer actions. Automate triggered emails to verify customer actions like signups or purchases and use email marketing tools to track metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates to optimize your campaigns.
By following these tips, you can start your email marketing campaign on the right foot and see tangible results quickly.
Create Fully-Built Stunning Email Templates That Convert With Mailsplash
Mailsplash is an innovative AI-powered tool designed to help businesses, freelancers, and agencies create stunning email templates that convert. With Mailsplash, you can effortlessly design and create compelling email campaigns and flows in minutes. The platform allows you to send these emails using any email service provider of your choice, such as Mailchimp or Klaviyo.
Mailsplash offers an all-in-one email solution that enables users to generate personalized and converting email campaigns at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing agencies. From email copywriting to personalized branded email template design, Mailsplash has you covered.
Hi! I'm Dan Kwon, a growth hacker and digital innovator who first gained social proof by hitting a million social media followers at 17. I founded an AI writing tool startup, propelling it to $1M ARR and over a million users in just 3 months, leading to a successful exit. My specialty lies in creating viral brand identities and understanding Gen Z’s digital marketing landscape. I'm always ready to share practical, real-world insights in digital marketing.