8 Best Email Marketing Tools: Review & Coupon

Direct email marketing is one of the best tools you can employ to increase your ROI. If you are considering using a paid service for this task, there are a couple of important considerations you need to think about; first, how large your contacts list is and second, what are the features you are looking for in an email marketing tool. There are several email marketing services available and each of them has a unique set of features, not to mention a unique pricing structure. Matching your needs to what these services are offering will take some effort. To make the process of picking the right service for you, here's a handy guide on your best possible options.

The aim of VerticalResponse is to provide an email marketing medium that is easy to use but is still highly customizable for advanced users. This wide reach of user types gives it a versatile appeal that both beginners and experts will appreciate. It has integrated social media tools, real time tracking capability and over 700 customizable themes to choose from. With a 98% delivery rate, it is one of the highest in the business. Its pricing is as versatile as its set of features. There are two options for users to choose from: Pay As You Go and Pay Monthly. In the Pay As You Go option, users only pay for every email sent. The price ranges from 0.75 cents to 1.5 cents depending on the number of credits purchased at a single time. This is ideal for users who do not send a lot of emails on a regular basis. The standard monthly pricing is on a monthly basis and it depends on the number of email addresses in the contact list.

Email Addresses     500     2,000     4,000     8,000     16,000     25,000     40,000

Pricing                   $10     $28        $46       $72        $120        $150        $240

GetResponse has a few features that set it apart from the rest of the email marketing pack. Aside from the standard social media integration, analytics and customizable templates, it offers an iStockphoto-powered image gallery, advanced segmentation and customizable automated responses. Customizing the templates for one's needs is made easier with free high quality images from iStockphoto, eliminating the need to purchase the perfect images for campaigns. Advanced segmentation allows users to send hyper-targeted campaigns, which means specific groups of contacts based on location, profile information and more. Finally, automated responses can be customized to fit all kinds of needs. Standard pricing is on a monthly basis and it depends on the number of email addresses in the contact list.

Email Addresses    250     500     1,000     2,500     5,000     10,000     15,000     25,000     50,000

Pricing                  $9.95   $14     $18        $25       $45        $65         $105        $145        $235

MailGen has one of the most extensive number of features in the business. It has complete tools in email creation, campaign sending, list management, analytics, security and social media integration. Its customization options are nothing short of spectacular. However, this level of deep customization and technical options may not be suitable for people who just want to create, send and track emal campaigns without all the bells and whistles. Advanced users, however, will have a field day in using this service. The standard monthly pricing is on a monthly basis and it depends on the number of email addresses in the contact list.

Email Addresses     500     2,500     5,000     10,000   25,000

Pricing                   $10     $25        $40       $60        $120

iContact is the only product on this list that offers an entirely free plan. Some of the other products here offer their services for free during a trial period, but this this one allows free use of their features with limitations forever. Its direct email marketing features were born directly from customer feedback, which means the features that the majority of the users are looking for can be found here such as contacts management, image hosting, spam checker, email tracking and a plug-in structure that allows for a multitude of additional features. The free plan is limited to 500 contacts, more than 20 email templates and full chat support, but it includes all the mentioned marketing tools. Standard pricing beyond the free plan is on a monthly basis and it depends on the number of email addresses in the contact list.

Email Addresses    500     1,000     2,500     5,000     10,000     15,000     25,000     35,000     50,000

Pricing                  $10     $19        $29        $47        $74         $109        $149       $239        $379

As the name suggests, EasyContact offers the easiest and fastest way to get the ball rolling on an email campaign. In 3 easy steps, an email campaign is ready to be sent. It also has a straightforward contact management feature and a scheduler that lets users specify a time when the email campaign will be sent. Data about email campaigns can be tracked using the built-in tracker that generates reports on views, bounces and clicks. This minimalistic approach to email marketing minimizes the time it takes to send out emails but it limits users to customization options especially in terms of design. It also does not have social media integration. Users who are looking for a more in-depth experience in email marketing may find this too simple for their needs. Standard pricing is on a monthly basis and it depends on the number of email addresses in the contact list.

Email Addresses    250     1,000     2,500     5,000     10,000     25,000     50,000     100,000

Pricing                  $9       $14        $25        $40        $65         $125        $225       $360

For people who want a deeper marketing experience involving their email campaigns, Sage ACT! is a strong solution for them. The focus of this application is more on information organization, lead generation and customer interaction rather than contacts management and theme customization. Its tools are geared more towards the marketing side of email campaigns instead of simple campaign creation, sending and tracking, unlike the other products in this report. It is a strong marketing tool thanks to its robust customer communication features and lead generation capability but it lacks built-in email campaign customization and social media integration. The application can be purchased for $194.99.

With the versatility of VerticalResponse in both pricing and set of features, it tops the list. It is flexible enough to meet all kinds of needs whether you are a beginner or an experienced email marketer. GetResponse and Constant Contact offer the best value for their price and they are both ideal for power users. MailGen has an exhaustive set of features but it can prove to be too daunting for beginners. On the other hand, eConnect Email is friendly enough for new email marketers but it lacks functionality in social media integration which is a very important element of marketing these days. iContact is ideal for people who do not have large contact lists because of its free basic plan that includes a complete set of direct email marketing features. EasyContact is great for beginners but it is too simple for people who need deep customization. Finally, Sage ACT! is geared towards lead generation and customer communication, which is great, but it lacks the type of customization that will bring in the leads and customers in the first place.