Email marketing delivers the highest ROI of any marketing channel. Newsletter tools help you build subscriber lists, design professional emails, and track campaign performance. The right platform turns casual visitors into loyal customers.
This guide covers 9 top email newsletter and marketing tools that work with WordPress. Each offers different strengths in design, automation, and pricing. Find the platform that matches your marketing goals. This guide is part of our complete WordPress plugins guide.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp dominates email marketing with its generous free tier and user-friendly design. Up to 500 contacts and 1,000 monthly emails cost nothing. The drag-and-drop editor creates professional emails without design skills.
Automation sequences trigger emails based on subscriber behavior. A/B testing improves open rates over time. E-commerce integrations track purchase activity for targeted campaigns. The WordPress plugin adds signup forms anywhere on your site.
Key Features:
- Free tier for small lists
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Marketing automation
- A/B testing
- E-commerce tracking
- WordPress integration
Emma
Emma focuses on design-forward email marketing for brands that value aesthetics. The platform offers premium templates and a clean interface. Teams appreciate the approval workflows and collaboration features.
Dynamic content personalization tailors emails to individual subscribers. Marketing calendar visualization helps plan campaigns. Integrations connect Emma with your CRM and e-commerce platforms. Dedicated support helps you succeed.
Key Features:
- Premium email templates
- Team collaboration tools
- Approval workflows
- Dynamic personalization
- Marketing calendar
- Dedicated support
Benchmark Email
Benchmark Email balances features with simplicity. The platform handles email campaigns, automation, and landing pages in one place. Beginners get up and running quickly while advanced users find depth.
The free plan includes 500 subscribers with basic features. Real-time reporting shows campaign performance as it happens. Responsive templates look good on all devices. Surveys and polls gather subscriber feedback.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Free tier available
- Landing page builder
- Real-time reporting
- Survey tools
- Responsive templates
Canva
Canva isn’t an email platform, but it creates the graphics that make emails shine. Design newsletter headers, promotional images, and social media content. The free tier covers most design needs.
Drag-and-drop editing works for non-designers. Thousands of templates provide starting points. Brand kits maintain consistent colors and fonts. Export images sized perfectly for email platforms.
Key Features:
- Easy graphic design
- Thousands of templates
- Brand kit management
- Email header templates
- Free tier included
- Team collaboration
Inbox Inspector
Inbox Inspector tests how your emails display across different email clients. Gmail, Outlook, and mobile apps render emails differently. Testing prevents broken layouts from reaching subscribers.
Preview emails in 90+ email clients before sending. Spam filter testing checks deliverability. Link validation ensures no broken URLs. Save time fixing issues before they become problems.
Key Features:
- 90+ email client previews
- Spam filter testing
- Link validation
- Mobile previews
- Code analysis
- Team sharing
MailUp
MailUp handles high-volume email sending with enterprise features. The platform scales from small businesses to large organizations. Unlimited sending removes worries about email volume caps.
SMS marketing adds another communication channel. Advanced segmentation targets specific subscriber groups. Dedicated IPs improve deliverability for high-volume senders. API access enables custom integrations.
Key Features:
- Unlimited email sending
- SMS marketing included
- Advanced segmentation
- Dedicated IP options
- API access
- Enterprise scalability
Sendloop
Sendloop offers affordable email marketing with essential features. The platform provides value without overwhelming complexity. Small businesses appreciate the straightforward pricing and interface.
Pre-designed templates speed up email creation. Automation rules trigger emails based on subscriber actions. Reporting tracks opens, clicks, and conversions. Integration options connect with popular platforms.
Key Features:
- Affordable pricing
- Simple interface
- Pre-designed templates
- Basic automation
- Performance reporting
- Platform integrations
Mailjet
Mailjet combines marketing emails with transactional email delivery. Send newsletters and order confirmations from one platform. The collaboration features let teams work on emails together in real time.
The free tier includes 6,000 emails monthly. Real-time collaboration shows team members editing together. A/B testing optimizes subject lines and content. SMTP relay handles transactional emails reliably.
Key Features:
- Marketing and transactional emails
- Real-time collaboration
- Free tier included
- A/B testing
- SMTP relay
- Contact management
Campaign Monitor
Campaign Monitor delivers professional email marketing with beautiful design tools. The platform emphasizes visual appeal and brand consistency. Agencies use it to manage multiple client accounts.
The visual journey builder creates automation sequences easily. Link review catches broken URLs before sending. Countdown timers add urgency to promotional emails. Smart segments update automatically as subscribers change.
Key Features:
- Beautiful design tools
- Visual automation builder
- Link review
- Countdown timers
- Dynamic segments
- Agency features
Choosing Your Email Platform
Start with your list size and budget. Mailchimp’s free tier works for small lists. Growing businesses benefit from Benchmark or Mailjet. Large organizations need MailUp’s unlimited sending.
Consider what matters most. Design-focused brands prefer Emma or Campaign Monitor. E-commerce sites need strong integration with WooCommerce. Test a few platforms with their free trials before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which email platform works best with WordPress?
Mailchimp offers the most WordPress integrations through official and third-party plugins. However, most platforms provide WordPress plugins or embed codes for signup forms. Choose based on features and pricing, then find the WordPress integration.
How do I grow my email subscriber list?
Offer value in exchange for email addresses. Lead magnets like ebooks, templates, or discounts encourage signups. Place forms prominently on your site. Exit-intent popups capture leaving visitors. Quality content keeps subscribers engaged.
What’s a good email open rate?
Average open rates vary by industry, ranging from 15-25%. Rates above 20% indicate healthy engagement. Subject lines, send times, and list quality all affect open rates. Focus on improving your own rates over time rather than comparing to benchmarks.
How often should I send newsletters?
Consistency matters more than frequency. Weekly works for most businesses. Daily suits news-focused sites with fresh content. Monthly minimum keeps subscribers engaged. Test different frequencies and watch unsubscribe rates.
Do I need GDPR compliance for email marketing?
Yes, if you have subscribers in the European Union. Collect explicit consent, provide easy unsubscribe options, and explain how you use data. Most modern email platforms include GDPR compliance features. Check your platform’s documentation for setup guidance.
What’s the difference between marketing and transactional emails?
Marketing emails promote products and content to subscribers who opted in. Transactional emails respond to user actions like purchases, password resets, or account updates. Some platforms handle both. Others specialize in one type. Mailjet and MailUp handle both effectively.
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