You cannot skip investing in email automation software if you want to see an upward curve in your business growth. In fact, 91% of marketers have stated that email automation software helps them achieve their business goals.
We get it. It’s not an easy task to go on a hunt for a good email automation tool and then start email automation right away. It would take a lot of time and effort, and the chances of you investing in the wrong software are also high.
That’s why we have sifted through the features of email automation software and have broken it down into this blog. Read on to find out which one would suit your business needs.
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What is Email Automation Software?
Email automation software automates the process of sending emails to targeted recipients based on predefined triggers or actions. It allows businesses to schedule, personalize, and send emails efficiently, saving time and effort.
This software automates tasks like sending email campaigns such as welcome emails, thank you emails, follow-ups, or promotional campaigns, and enhances engagement, nurtures leads, and drives conversions. Ultimately, email automation software empowers businesses to deliver timely and relevant messages to their audience, maximizing their marketing efforts.
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Why do you need Email Automation Software?
You could have tens of thousands of customers. Do you think you can send them all emails manually? That’s one reason you need an email automation tool. Here are a few other reasons why.
- Scalability: Scales with business growth, accommodating larger email lists and more complex campaigns effectively.
- Consistency: Ensures timely delivery of emails, maintaining a consistent presence in recipients’ inboxes.
- Personalization: Enables personalized messaging based on recipient behavior or segmentation, fostering stronger connections.
- Improved Conversions: Helps move leads through the sales funnel by delivering timely and compelling messages.
- Automated Workflows: Sets up automated workflows to handle specific actions or triggers, streamlining processes.
How to choose the right Email Automation Software?
Before we discuss the top email automation tools available, let’s first understand the essential features an email automation software should have.
Ease of use: Look for software that is intuitive and easy to use, especially if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise. A user-friendly interface can save time and frustration.
Integration Options: Ensure that the email automation software integrates seamlessly with your existing tools and platforms, such as CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, and other marketing tools.
Scalability: Choose a solution that can accommodate your current needs but also has the flexibility to handle increased volume and complexity as your business expands.
Analytics and Reporting: Ensure the software provides detailed analytics and reporting features that allow you to measure key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and more.
Automation Workflows: Look for email automation software that offers a wide range of pre-built automation workflows, such as welcome series, abandoned cart recovery, win-back emails, etc.
Email Segmentation: Evaluate the segmentation capabilities of the email automation software to target specific segments of your audience with personalized content.
Sign-Up Forms and Popups: Assess the flexibility and customization options for creating sign-up forms and popups to grow your email list.
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Email Automation Software: Comparison Table
| Plugin | Features | Pricing |
| Retainful |
| Starts from $9/month |
| Drip |
| Starts from $39/month |
| MailChimp |
| Starts from $13/month |
| Brevo |
| Starts from $25/month |
| Omnisend |
| Starts from $16/month |
| Convertkit |
| Starts from $9/month |
| EngageBay |
| Starts from $13.79/month |
| EmailOctopus |
| Starts from $8/month |
| GetResponse |
| Starts from $15/month |
| ActiveCampaign |
| Starts from $29/month |
| Constant Contact |
| Starts from $12/month |
| Mailerlite |
| Starts from $9/month |
| Hubspot |
| Starts from $20/month |
Best Email Automation tools
Retainful
Retainful is the best email automation software for eCommerce email marketing. It has a user-friendly interface that stands out among its competitors. It is incredibly easy for users to navigate and utilize.
Retainful offers scalability, ensuring seamless growth and adaptability to evolving business needs. With customizable templates and a convenient drag-and-drop editor, users can effortlessly create visually stunning email campaigns tailored to their brand.
Retainful’s trigger-based automation and intuitive workflow setup simplify reaching customers at crucial touchpoints along their journey. Moreover, its advanced segmentation and personalization capabilities enable targeted communication, maximizing engagement and conversions.
With emails crafted for every stage of the customer journey, Retainful empowers businesses to nurture relationships and drive sustainable growth like no other plugin.
The best part is that this email automation tool comes with a free trial which you can use to test the waters before you invest in it.
Key Features
- Seamless integration
- User-Friendly Interface
- Scalability
- Drag-and-Drop Editor
- Trigger-Based Automation
- Pre-built automated workflows (customizable)
- Personalized email campaigns
- Newsletter campaigns
- Segmentation
- Comprehensive Customer Journey Emails
- Abandoned cart emails
- Sign-up forms and popups
- Customizable Templates
- Dynamic coupons
- Referral program
- Analytics and Reporting
- Email sequences
Pricing
- Starts from $9/month
- Free Plan available
Automate emails using easy-to-setup automation workflows and customize attractive email templates with Retainful for maximized conversions.
Drip
Drip’s segmentation capabilities allow users to target specific audience segments based on various criteria. Drip enables personalized and relevant communication, fostering engagement and conversion.
Moreover, this email automation software comes with a drip email process that streamlines campaign management, automating the delivery of scheduled emails over time to nurture leads effectively.
With its pre-made templates, users can quickly create professional-looking campaigns tailored to their brand aesthetic. Additionally, this email automation tool has built-in analytics that provides valuable insights into campaign performance, enabling users to refine their email marketing strategies for optimal results.
Key Features
- Segmentation
- Analytics
- Pre-built templates
- Drip campaigns
Pricing
- Starts from $39/month
Pros
- Segmentation helps create targeted campaigns.
- Analytics offers insights into open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates.
Cons
- Compared to some other email automation tools, Drip may have higher pricing tiers, which could be a limitation for smaller businesses or those with limited budgets.
- May have a steep learning curve for new users, requiring time and effort to fully master the platform.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp streamlines email marketing with its user-friendly features. It allows for targeted communication through data segmentation and offers a diverse range of templates and personalization options to craft engaging campaigns.
The Creative Assistant of this email automation software further facilitates easy template creation. Users can track email performance in real time through email tracking and ensure cohesive communication with customer journey mapping.
Key Features
- Pre-made templates
- Data segmentation
- Analytics and Reporting
- Customer journey mapping
- Email sequences
Pricing
- Starts from $13/month
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Seamless integration
Cons
- Pricing escalates with growing subscriber lists, posing challenges for larger businesses.
- Some users might find Mailchimp’s automation less advanced, with limited customization and triggers.
Brevo
Brevo simplifies email marketing with its user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, allowing users of all levels to create campaigns effortlessly. The email automation software offers intuitive popups for efficient email address collection, streamlining lead generation efforts.
Its segmentation feature provides flexibility, enabling users to categorize leads based on various attributes and past interactions for targeted communication. Additionally, Brevo offers pre-built automation workflows, enhancing marketing efficiency.
Key Features
- Popups
- Email Segmentation
- Pre-built workflows
- Drag and drop email builder
Pricing
- Starts from $25/month
Pros
- Drag-and-drop builder simplifies the email campaign creation process.
- Segmentation allows users to categorize leads based on various attributes.
Cons
- Limited Integration Options
- Limited customization options within the pre-built automation workflows
Omnisend
Omnisend users benefit from pre-built workflows, which streamline the automation of various marketing tasks. Attention-grabbing subject lines can also enhance email engagement.
Email sequences of this email automation software allow for strategic messaging delivery over time to nurture leads effectively. Additionally, Omnisend’s trigger-based emails ensure timely and personalized communication triggered by user actions. A/B testing capabilities enable users to experiment with different elements, optimizing campaigns for audience engagement and conversion.
Key Features
- Trigger-based automation
- Pre-built templates
- Email sequences
- Integrations with other eCommerce platforms.
Pricing
- Starts from $16/month
Pros
- Pre-built workflows and trigger-based emails
- A/B testing functionality to experiment with different elements
Cons
- Some users may find Omnisend’s interface and features overwhelming.
- Its pricing plan is relatively higher compared to other email automation software.
- Users may find the quality or responsiveness of customer support inconsistent.
ConvertKit
ConvertKit simplifies email marketing with drip campaigns, pre-made visual email automation templates, and customizable email templates. Users can easily set up drip campaigns to engage subscribers over time.
With pre-made templates of this email automation tool, creating automated campaigns is quick and effective. ConvertKit also offers email signup forms and landing pages for list growth and lead capture. Its built-in email designer enables users to craft visually appealing emails, ensuring brand consistency.
Key Features
- Drip campaigns
- Pre-made templates
- Email signup forms
- Landing page templates
Pricing
- Starts from $9/month
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Customizable email templates and built-in landing pages
Cons
- Limited visual design options
- Limited integration options
EngageBay
EngageBay comes with a drag-and-drop editor that allows easy email creation, while customizable templates ensure brand consistency. This email automation software comes with social share buttons extend campaign reach by enabling recipients to share content on social media.
Segmentation enables targeted communication, enhancing engagement. Email sequences automate follow-up emails to nurture leads.
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Customizable email templates
- Social share buttons
- Segmentation
- Email sequences
Pricing
- Starts from $13.79/month
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Scalability
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Less responsive customer support
EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus offers a variety of templates to choose from, users can easily create visually appealing and professional-looking emails. The drag-and-drop email editor further streamlines the process, allowing for customization without any coding knowledge required.
Additionally, this email automation tool provides a landing page builder, helping users create landing pages that complement their email campaigns and drive conversions. The platform’s automated email sequences feature enables users to set up automated workflows, ensuring timely and targeted communication with their subscribers.
Key Features
- Variety of templates
- Drag and drop email editor
- Landing page builder
- Automated email sequences
Pricing
- Starts from $8/month
Pros
- Wide variety of templates
- Drag-and-drop email editor
Cons
- Limited integration options with other third-party tools
- Lack of built-in customer support options.
GetResponse
GetResponse automated email sequences using users can nurture leads and engage subscribers over time. Action-based trigger emails enable timely and personalized communication based on user interactions, ensuring relevant messaging that resonates with your audience.
Customer segmentation of this email automation tool allows for precise targeting, delivering tailored content to specific audience segments for maximum impact. GetResponse’s analytics provide valuable insights into campaign performance, allowing users to track key metrics and optimize their strategies for better results. Additionally, the platform offers sign-up forms, landing pages, and popups to facilitate list growth.
Key Features
- Automated email sequences
- Action-based trigger emails
- Customer segmentation
- Analytics
- Sign up forms
- Landing pages
- Popups
Pricing
- Starts from $15/month
Pros
- Automated email sequences
- Action-based trigger emails
Cons
- Some users may find GetResponse’s interface complex
- Deliverability issues
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ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign offers welcome messages and follow-ups, enabling personalized communication with new subscribers and ongoing engagement with your audience. This email automation software comes with geo-tracking capabilities that users use to tailor their campaigns based on the location of their contacts, ensuring relevant messaging that resonates with different regions.
Trigger-based automated emails help users automate communication based on specific actions or behaviors. The email segmentation feature allows for targeting based on purchase history, location, and lifecycle stage, maximizing the effectiveness of campaigns. Also, ActiveCampaign also seamlessly integrates with popular platforms like Google Analytics, Shopify, and WordPress.
Key Features
- Welcome messages
- Follow-ups
- Geotracking
- Email segmentation
- Seamless integration
Pricing
- Starts from $29/month
Pros
- Segmentation based on purchase history, location, and lifecycle stage.
- Integration with Popular Platforms.
Cons
- Limited email template library.
- Cost increases significantly as their contact list grows.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact’s AI feature lets users generate messages, saving time and ensuring engaging content. The platform provides automation templates, allowing users to set up automated workflows for various marketing tasks.
Additionally, this email automation tool enables users to resend emails that were never opened, giving them a second chance to reach their audience and improve engagement. Custom sign-up pages help users create personalized experiences for their subscribers, boosting sign-up rates.
Constant Contact’s analytics provide valuable insights into email performance, including delivery rate, open rate, deletions, and click-through rate. This enables users to track campaign effectiveness and make data-driven decisions.
Key Features
- AI feature to write messages
- Automation templates
- Unopened emails resend
- Sign-up pages
- Analytics
Pricing
- Starts from $12/month
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Detailed analytics
Cons
- Limited automation customization
- Limited sign-up page customization
MailerLite
MailerLite offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, so users can easily create attractive emails. The platform’s customer segmentation capabilities allow for targeting based on purchase behavior, ensuring personalized communication that resonates with different audience segments.
Automation triggers of this email automation software enable users to set up automated workflows triggered by specific actions or behaviors, enhancing engagement and efficiency. MailerLite also provides pre-built workflows for various marketing goals. Real-time reports provide valuable insights into campaign performance, allowing users to track key metrics and optimize their strategies for better results.
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop editor
- customer segmentation
- Automation triggers
- Pre-built workflows
- Real-time reports
Pricing
- Starts from $9/month
Pros
- Drag and drop editor
- Customer segmentation
Cons
- Limited integration options
- No premade templates
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Hubspot
HubSpot offers CRM functionality that enables users to manage customer relationships effectively, track interactions, and personalize communication. Email marketing automation simplifies campaign management, allowing for targeted messaging and timely follow-ups.
Custom reporting of this email automation software provides valuable insights into campaign performance, empowering users to make data-driven decisions and optimize strategies for better results. Pre-made workflows streamline repetitive tasks, saving time and enhancing efficiency in campaign execution.
This email automation tool comes with pop-up forms to facilitate lead capture and list growth, while performance analytics provide real-time data on key metrics such as open rates and click-through rates.
Key Features
- CRM
- Email marketing automation
- Custom reporting
- Pre-made workflows
- Pop-up forms
- Performance Analytics
Pricing
- Starts from $20/month
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Advanced segmentation
Cons
- Its pricing plans are higher compared to some other marketing platforms.
- May have a learning curve for new users who are not familiar with marketing automation platforms.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s essential to choose an email automation software that aligns with your brand’s goals and aspirations. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of free trials to see if the platform suits your needs. By embracing email automation, you can free yourself from the daily grind of repetitive sales tasks and focus on what truly matters for your business.
In comparison, Retainful stands out as a top choice in this regard. It offers customizable templates and workflows, ensuring that your brand’s personality shines through in every communication. With segmentation features, you can tailor your messages to resonate with your audience on a personal level. Plus, Retainful’s affordability makes it an excellent option for businesses looking to grow without breaking the bank. So if you’re aiming to scale your business while keeping costs in check, Retainful is the perfect partner for your email automation journey.
Retainful is the best email automation tool. It has everything from automated workflows, customizable templates, segmentation, sign up forms and analytics.
Yes, you can automate emails using various email automation software like Retainful, which streamlines communication and saves time
AI can be utilized to personalize and optimize email content and scheduling, enhancing email automation processes.
Absolutely, email automation tools like Retainful simplify and streamline the process of sending emails, saving time and improving marketing efficiency.
Email automation flow is a predefined sequence of automated emails triggered by user actions or predetermined schedules. It is designed to effectively engage, nurture, and convert leads or customers. It streamlines communication processes, ensuring timely and relevant messages are delivered without manual intervention.
Install Retainful -> Go to Dashboard -> Automation -> Select the type of email automation -> Set up triggers, wait condition, entry rule, and email template in minutes -> Click on start workflow.
