7 Best EmailOctopus Alternatives in 2025 (Ranked & Compared)

7 Best EmailOctopus Alternatives in 2025 (Ranked & Compared)

If EmailOctopus isn’t meeting your needs, here are seven alternatives to consider. Each platform offers distinct features, pricing, and benefits tailored to different business goals. Whether you need advanced automation, better design tools, or multi-channel marketing, these options cover a wide range of requirements.

• Groupmail: Affordable, with strong SMTP integration and drag-and-drop design tools.
• MailerLite: Simple to use with advanced automation and a generous free plan.
• Mailchimp: A powerful all-in-one marketing tool with AI-driven automation.
• Brevo (Sendinblue): Great for transactional emails and rapid delivery.
• ActiveCampaign: Advanced automation and CRM for scaling businesses.
• Moosend: Offers detailed automation and personalization at a lower price point.
• SendPulse: Multi-channel marketing with email, SMS, and web push.

Quick Comparison

Each platform addresses specific gaps in EmailOctopus, offering tools for businesses looking to improve email marketing capabilities. Whether you’re focused on automation, design, or multi-channel outreach, there’s a solution here for you.

I tried every email marketing tool. Here's the BEST

1. Groupmail

Groupmail offers a sleek, user-friendly alternative to EmailOctopus, boasting a drag-and-drop email builder, live analytics, and mobile-ready templates. What sets it apart is its robust SMTP integration, allowing users to connect with third-party email services like SMTP2GO and SendGrid. This connection not only enhances deliverability but also helps cut down on costs, giving users greater control over their email campaigns. Let’s dive into how these SMTP integrations make a difference.

SMTP Integration Benefits

Groupmail’s partnership with SMTP2GO is a game-changer, offering a free monthly allowance of 10,000 emails. It takes care of critical technical details like SPF, DKIM, and blacklist monitoring to ensure smooth email delivery. The webhook integration tracks key email events - such as sent, delivered, opened, clicked, and bounced messages - and feeds this data into Groupmail’s analytics dashboard, providing detailed insights into campaign performance.

Design and Automation Features

Groupmail doesn’t just focus on deliverability; it also makes creating email campaigns a breeze. The drag-and-drop builder supports video, HTML content, and even in-editor image adjustments, along with personalization options. It also includes tools for scheduling, managing bounces and unsubscribes, and creating multi-language campaigns, making it a versatile choice for diverse marketing needs.

Pricing Structure

Groupmail keeps things simple with a straightforward pricing model that avoids volume-based limits:

User Ratings

Groupmail earns high marks from users, with a 4.3/5 rating on GetApp and Software Advice. It’s particularly praised for being budget-friendly, scoring 4.4/5 for cost-effectiveness.

Best For: Ideal for businesses that prioritize design flexibility, control over SMTP settings, and predictable pricing. It’s especially useful for newsletter publishers and marketing teams who need reliable email delivery paired with in-depth analytics.

2. MailerLite

If you're looking for an advanced segmentation. You can create highly targeted campaigns by segmenting subscribers based on their behavior and interactions with your emails. These sophisticated triggers and conditions help you deliver the right message at the right time.

Users have reported seeing a 20% increase in open rates and noticeable improvements in click rates by leveraging these targeted campaigns.

Flexible Design Tools and Templates

MailerLite shines when it comes to design. Its extensive template library and three editor options - drag-and-drop, rich text, and custom HTML - give you full creative control.

The landing page builder is another highlight, offering sleek, modern templates and even AI-powered page creation. Combined with robust analytics and testing tools, MailerLite ensures your campaigns not only look great but also perform effectively.

Detailed Analytics and Testing

With MailerLite, you get access to in-depth analytics, including page views, unique visitors, and conversion rates. Features like click heatmaps provide insights into how users interact with your website. The platform also supports A/B testing, RSS campaigns, and multivariate campaigns, helping you refine your strategies for better results.

Pricing and Value

MailerLite offers a straightforward pricing structure that caters to different needs:

Even the free plan includes automation and allows you to send up to 12,000 emails per month to 1,000 contacts, making it a great starting point for smaller businesses.

Reliable Customer Support

MailerLite is known for its excellent customer support, boasting a rapid 5-minute live chat response time. With 94% of reviews being positive, users frequently commend the quality of assistance provided.

"MailerLite gives me everything that I need at a price that I'm happy to pay." - Michael F., Small-Business

Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses that need advanced automation, detailed analytics, and a wide range of templates. It's particularly well-suited for those who want professional-grade tools while keeping things simple enough for beginners, with plenty of room to grow as their needs evolve.

3. Mailchimp

Mailchimp has grown far beyond its roots as a basic email marketing tool, transforming into a full-fledged marketing platform. With over 11 million users worldwide, it provides a powerful option for businesses aiming to step up their marketing efforts.

AI-Powered Marketing Automation

One of Mailchimp's standout features is its advanced automation, driven by artificial intelligence. The platform offers more than 50 behavior-based triggers, enabling real-time and highly personalized campaigns. While tools like EmailOctopus stick to basic automation, Mailchimp takes it further with AI-generated templates, detailed trigger options, and conditional logic that adapts to how your audience behaves. Users of the Standard plan have reported up to 24x ROI, while those on paid plans have achieved up to 25x ROI.

A Full Suite of Marketing Tools

Mailchimp isn't just about email - it integrates a variety of tools designed to help businesses grow. Its all-in-one approach combines email marketing, CRM, social media tools, and more. With connections to over 300 apps and services, integrating it into your existing systems is straightforward. The platform’s Content Optimizer uses AI to provide actionable suggestions for improving your emails, while advanced segmentation ensures you’re targeting the right audience. And with a >99% deliverability rate, your emails are far more likely to land in inboxes than spam folders.

User-Friendly Design and Features

Mailchimp balances its powerful features with ease of use. Standard and Premium plan users benefit from personalized onboarding, which helps even beginners get started quickly. Its drag-and-drop editor, combined with AI-driven design tools, allows users to create polished campaigns without needing design expertise. While the platform's extensive capabilities might feel overwhelming at first, 90% of users rely on its detailed reporting tools to guide their strategies.

Pricing Breakdown

Mailchimp uses a contact-based pricing model, reflecting its premium position in the market:

Although pricier than EmailOctopus, the cost is justified by the advanced features included, which are especially valuable for businesses looking to expand. Nonprofits and charities can take advantage of a 15% discount on all plans.

Performance and Results

Mailchimp delivers measurable results: 70% of small businesses reported increased engagement and sales after using the platform. Its blend of AI-powered tools, advanced segmentation, and in-depth analytics offers businesses a reliable way to maximize their email marketing ROI.

Best For: Medium to large businesses that need a comprehensive marketing solution. Mailchimp is perfect for companies ready to move beyond basic email campaigns into more sophisticated, multi-channel strategies backed by detailed analytics.

4. Brevo (Sendinblue)

Brevo, previously known as Sendinblue, is a robust marketing platform with a 4.6/5 overall rating for its user-friendly interface and advanced features. It's a strong contender for businesses looking to step up from simpler tools like EmailOctopus, offering rapid delivery speeds and powerful design capabilities to handle growing campaign demands.

Advanced SMTP and Deliverability

For businesses that need faster email dispatch and greater control, Brevo delivers. Its SMTP integration ensures lightning-fast delivery - 50% of emails are sent within 1 second, and 99.98% within 20 seconds. This makes it especially appealing for companies managing transactional emails alongside their marketing campaigns.

Brevo also includes features to safeguard your sender reputation, addressing a common challenge with basic email platforms. These tools are invaluable for maintaining deliverability and ensuring your emails reach their intended audience.

Enhanced Design and Automation Tools

Brevo’s drag-and-drop email builder simplifies the creation of professional-looking emails in minutes. Its automation builder goes beyond basic options, enabling custom workflows based on user behavior and website interactions.

"I don't have time to spend hours understanding how to set things up. Brevo's campaign builder is very straightforward. I can create professional emails in minutes."

• Paul Lacitinola, Owner, Vintage Camper Trailers

The platform also offers superior integration capabilities and landing page tools, features that are often limited to paid plans on platforms like EmailOctopus.

Competitive Pricing Structure

Brevo’s pricing is budget-friendly, with pay-as-you-go plans that are 25-60% cheaper than competitors like Mailchimp. Its free plan is particularly generous, supporting up to 100,000 contacts and 300 emails per day, including access to the SMTP server.

Nonprofits can enjoy a 15% discount on all plans, making Brevo an even more attractive option. Its feature-rich offerings justify its pricing tiers.

Real-World Impact

Brevo has proven to deliver tangible benefits for businesses. Kevin Yen, Head of Growth at AI Camp, shared how the platform helped his team save on costs:

"Brevo gives us the functionality and flexibility we need to manage our marketing engagement as well as our sales pipeline while saving us $30,000 annually compared to HubSpot."

Areas for Improvement

Despite its strengths, some users have noted that Brevo’s pricing structure could be more transparent. Additionally, the platform’s email template options are somewhat limited, which might be a drawback for businesses heavily reliant on unique designs.

Best For

Brevo is an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses seeking reliable SMTP services, advanced automation tools, and professional design capabilities. It’s ideal for companies ready to elevate their email marketing efforts without overspending.

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5. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign stands out as a leader in advanced automation, boasting a 4.5/5 rating from over 14,000 reviews - making it one of the most positively reviewed marketing automation platforms globally. While EmailOctopus provides basic automation with limited triggers, ActiveCampaign takes things to the next level with AI-driven automation that can redefine how businesses connect with their customers.

AI-Powered Automation

ActiveCampaign’s visual automation builder goes beyond simple workflows. By leveraging AI to pre-fill content and create workflows tailored to your business goals, it makes even complex automation accessible to users without technical expertise. You can design detailed customer journeys with advanced triggers, actions, and conditions that adapt in real-time to user behavior.

The platform’s impact is undeniable. For instance, in 2025, Pit Boss Grills generated $76,717 in revenue from a single email campaign using ActiveCampaign’s forms, tagging, and automation tools. As their team stated:

A single campaign generated over $76,000 in revenue, and it was largely thanks to ActiveCampaign forms, tagging, and automation that were instrumental in achieving this result.

Integrated CRM That Boosts Revenue

ActiveCampaign combines advanced automation with a built-in CRM, creating a powerful tool for managing customer interactions. This integration lets you track everything from email opens and link clicks to website visits, while also managing deals and forecasting sales.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago saw a 206% revenue growth year-over-year in 2025, heavily supported by ActiveCampaign’s integrated approach. Their marketing team shared:

ActiveCampaign lets us send email campaigns, automate features, and manage contacts by staff group. The holy trinity. Other tools couldn't do all three.

This seamless combination of automation and CRM tools makes it easier to engage customers and drive growth.

Features That Grow With Your Business

ActiveCampaign offers a range of advanced features like predictive sending, geotracking, multi-user collaboration, and custom pipelines. Its omni-channel messaging ensures your communications reach customers on their preferred platforms.

For businesses with more advanced CRM needs, ActiveCampaign integrates with platforms like Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, and Zendesk Sell. These premium CRM add-ons include pipeline management, lead scoring, deal tracking, and automated 1:1 email options.

Pricing and Add-Ons

ActiveCampaign’s pricing starts at $19/month for up to 1,000 contacts on the Starter plan. While it’s positioned on the higher end for small-to-medium businesses, many users report seeing a strong return on investment when utilizing the platform’s full suite of tools.

Add-ons like SMS marketing ($16.83/month), enhanced CRM ($68–$111/month), and custom reporting ($159/month) are also available. Additionally, non-profits receive a 20% discount on all plans.

Who Should Consider ActiveCampaign?

ActiveCampaign is a great fit for businesses looking for advanced automation workflows, integrated CRM features, and detailed segmentation tools. It’s particularly suited for e-commerce businesses or companies managing complex customer journeys that go beyond basic email marketing.

Potential Downsides

Some users feel the pricing can be a hurdle for smaller startups. Additionally, the platform’s extensive feature set may feel overwhelming for businesses that only need simple email marketing. Recent price increases have also frustrated some long-term users.

Best For

ActiveCampaign is best suited for medium to large businesses ready to invest in high-level marketing automation. It’s an excellent choice for companies seeking advanced customer journey mapping, AI-driven automation, and CRM tools that can deliver measurable revenue growth.

Up next, we’ll explore another strong contender in the marketing automation space.

6. Moosend

Moosend stands out as a marketing automation platform that goes far beyond the basics offered by EmailOctopus. With a global user base of over 100,000 customers, it combines an intuitive interface with powerful automation tools designed to help businesses engage more effectively with their audiences.

Advanced Automation That Adapts to Your Needs

Unlike EmailOctopus, which focuses on simple time-based campaigns, Moosend provides dynamic automation workflows that respond to subscriber behavior in real time. It features 11 automation actions, such as sending Slack messages, triggering automations, and posting webhooks. Its builder offers four conditional steps for more advanced filtering, surpassing the basic Yes/No options available in EmailOctopus. Pre-designed templates for tasks like welcome sequences, abandoned cart recovery, and re-engagement are included, along with an AI writer tool to help craft personalized messages.

Flexible and Engaging Email Design

Moosend’s email builder comes equipped with 82 professional templates and 12 layout variations. The editor also allows you to add interactive elements like countdown timers and product showcases, enabling dynamic content tailored to subscriber location, weather, or their position in the buyer’s journey.

These design tools have delivered measurable results for major brands.

Real Success Stories

Moosend’s advanced features have helped businesses achieve notable gains. For instance, Vogue’s Email Marketing Associate, Dipak Raghuwansi, shared their positive experience:

"After going through Mailchimp, and other platforms, we decided to stay with Moosend. From seamless onsite event tracking to amazing support, there's no other tool matching the feature set & price point offered."

• Dipak Raghuwansi, Email Marketing Associate | Vogue

Similarly, Alex Melvani, Membership Officer at WWF, praised the platform’s affordability and ease of use:

"Moosend is a user friendly professional platform with a great support team. And the most incredible thing is that it's cost efficient. Thank you Moosend for making my life easier."

• Alex Melvani, Membership Officer | WWF

Straightforward Pricing

Moosend’s pricing starts at $9 per month for 500 subscribers, with unlimited email sends. Unlike competitors that charge based on email volume, Moosend’s subscriber-based pricing offers predictability as your list grows. For those who prefer flexibility, pay-as-you-go credits are available starting at $350 for 350,000 credits.

Tools for Growing Businesses

Moosend shines with features like advanced product recommendations, precise email personalization, and detailed segmentation tools. Its real-time analytics go beyond basic metrics, offering insights into audience behavior. Dynamic segmentation, which automatically organizes your audience, and numerous integrations make it easy to incorporate Moosend into your existing workflow. Plus, with 24/5 email and live chat support, assistance is always a click away.

Areas for Improvement

Some users feel that Moosend’s interface could use a refresh, as it can appear slightly outdated and cluttered compared to newer platforms. Additionally, its email deliverability rates have been rated as average in recent tests, and the signup form templates leave room for improvement.

Best For

Moosend is a great fit for medium-sized businesses looking for advanced automation tools without the steep price of enterprise solutions. Its features - like behavioral triggers, product recommendation engines, and detailed customer segmentation - make it particularly appealing for e-commerce businesses. With a G2 rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars, Moosend offers the automation power needed to help growing businesses thrive.

7. SendPulse

SendPulse rounds out our list as a multi-channel marketing platform that goes well beyond traditional email marketing. Alongside its core email tools, it provides a full suite of marketing capabilities, including SMS campaigns, chatbots, and web push notifications. Let’s dive into what makes SendPulse stand out, from its multi-channel automation to its design tools.

Multi-Channel Automation That Extends Your Reach

SendPulse takes email automation to the next level by seamlessly integrating multiple channels. With advanced triggers and intuitive automation, you can connect with your audience through email, SMS, and web push notifications. The platform’s combination of tools - including email, webhooks, SMS, and CRM - ensures better subscriber engagement. Impressively, its data-driven approach has been shown to boost email open rates to over 45%.

Design Tools with Interactive Features

SendPulse’s editor supports AMP emails, allowing users to upload custom code for more dynamic and engaging designs. Whether you prefer starting from scratch or using one of the pre-made templates, the platform offers flexibility. Additionally, its A/B testing feature for subject lines helps refine your campaigns for better performance.

Real User Insights

Marketers who use SendPulse often highlight its versatility and support. Melissa A., President of a Marketing and Advertising agency, shared:

"SendPulse is the best email marketing tool we've found! As an agency, we love the pricing, flexible features, and innovative updates! The support is top-notch and very swift!"

However, not all feedback is glowing. Antony C., a verified LinkedIn user, noted some challenges:

"The pricing plans can be a bit confusing, especially for users who are just starting and may not know which features they need"

Flexible Pricing Options

SendPulse offers a range of pricing plans to suit different needs. Its free plan accommodates up to 500 subscribers and includes 15,000 emails per month, while paid plans start at $8/month with unlimited emails [87, 90].

For those who don’t want a monthly commitment, SendPulse also offers pay-as-you-go options, allowing users to purchase credits as needed.

Advanced Analytics and AI Integration

SendPulse doesn’t stop at pricing flexibility. It equips marketers with cutting-edge analytics, offering real-time data and detailed subscriber insights. The platform also incorporates AI-powered features, such as ChatGPT integration for chatbots and smart email content suggestions, to streamline campaign creation and management.

Room for Improvement

While SendPulse offers a robust feature set, it’s not without its flaws. Some users have found the interface less user-friendly and noted limited customization options for email templates. Additionally, there have been occasional issues with email deliverability, with some messages ending up in spam folders. Despite these challenges, it remains a strong contender in the multi-channel marketing space.

Best For

SendPulse is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a comprehensive multi-channel marketing solution rather than focusing solely on email. With impressive ratings of 4.6 out of 5 stars on G2 and Capterra, it’s a great fit for companies aiming to combine email, SMS, and web push notifications into cohesive campaigns. This platform is ideal for those ready to invest time in mastering its advanced automation tools and multi-channel capabilities.

Feature and Price Comparison

Here's a breakdown of seven alternatives based on features, pricing, and suitability for different business needs and budgets.

*Mailchimp's starting price is based on the Essentials plan for up to 500 subscribers.

Pricing and Features: What Stands Out?

The pricing spectrum across these platforms is wide, reflecting their varying levels of functionality and target audiences. For instance, Moosend offers advanced segmentation and automation at just $9/month, making it a solid choice for growing businesses. On the other hand, Mailchimp, starting at $4.63/month, is on the pricier side when scaling up, but its extensive integrations and automation tools justify the cost for many.

MailerLite is a standout option for beginners. Its simple interface, paired with excellent deliverability, starts at a reasonable $10/month. Meanwhile, Brevo caters to publishers and B2B businesses with its SMS marketing and Facebook Ads integration, though it comes with a higher entry price of $25/month.

Free Plans: A Closer Look

Free plans differ significantly across platforms. Groupmail allows up to 1,000 contacts and 2,000 sends, while MailerLite supports 1,000 contacts and 12,000 sends. Mailchimp, however, limits its free plan to just 250 subscribers. Notably, platforms like ActiveCampaign do not offer free plans, reflecting their focus on feature-rich, paid services.

Feature Depth and Pricing Correlation

Platforms with more advanced features naturally come with higher price tags. For example, ActiveCampaign starts at $39/month, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for marketing automation and CRM. Similarly, SendPulse justifies its pricing with its multi-channel capabilities, making it ideal for businesses looking to expand beyond email marketing.

Whether you're after better automation tools (ActiveCampaign), superior design options (Groupmail), or multi-channel marketing solutions (SendPulse), there's a platform tailored to your specific needs and budget. Each alternative brings something unique to the table, offering flexibility for businesses at different stages of growth.

Final Thoughts

Pick the option that aligns with your needs, budget, and future growth plans. Each platform has its own set of strengths, catering to a variety of business and marketing goals.

Here’s a quick rundown of what each brings to the table:

• Groupmail: Perfect for businesses that need flexibility with SMTP providers and advanced design capabilities. It integrates seamlessly with services like SMTP2GO and SendGrid, giving you full control over email deliverability. Plus, its drag-and-drop builder and unlimited sends on paid plans make it a great choice for businesses that value predictable costs and professional designs.
• MailerLite: A user-friendly platform ideal for beginners. Its intuitive interface and built-in photo editor have earned it a 4.7/5 user rating.
• Mailchimp: Known for its extensive integrations and mobile app access, though its pricing can increase as your contact list grows.
• Brevo: Offers a sleek modern interface and SMS marketing features, making it a strong choice for businesses seeking multi-channel marketing tools.
• ActiveCampaign: Designed for businesses with advanced marketing strategies in mind, thanks to its powerful CRM capabilities and automation workflows.
• Moosend: Competitive pricing paired with advanced segmentation and automation options.
• SendPulse: A solid option for businesses aiming to scale, with its multi-channel marketing features.

Ultimately, your decision comes down to what matters most to your business - whether it’s the control offered by platforms like Groupmail or the convenience of all-in-one solutions. If you're stepping away from EmailOctopus due to its limited automation features, these alternatives provide the tools and scalability needed to support your growth in 2025.

FAQs

What should I look for when choosing an alternative to EmailOctopus for my email marketing needs?

When looking for an alternative to EmailOctopus, it's important to weigh a few key factors: email deliverability, ease of use, and scalability. Strong deliverability ensures your emails actually land in inboxes, not spam folders. An intuitive platform can save your team valuable time, while scalability becomes crucial as your business grows and your campaigns expand.

You should also think about features like automation tools, customization options, and pricing. Automation helps simplify your processes, while customization allows you to craft campaigns that resonate with your audience. Pricing is another big consideration - make sure the platform fits your budget. Lastly, choose a service with dependable customer support to help with setup and any issues along the way. By keeping these factors in mind, you'll be better equipped to find a solution that meets your business needs.

How does the pricing of these EmailOctopus alternatives compare, and which one is the best value for small businesses?

The pricing for EmailOctopus alternatives comes in a range of options to suit different business needs. For instance, EmailOctopus itself starts at $9/month, while Mailchimp begins at $20/month for up to 25,000 emails. Sendy takes a different approach with a one-time fee of $69 plus pay-per-email charges, and Flodesk offers a flat rate of $38/month, no matter the size of your email list.

For small businesses, predictable pricing models like Flodesk's flat fee or the low upfront cost of Sendy can be easier on the budget as email volumes increase. Ultimately, the best choice depends on what features matter most to your business, such as automation, scalability, or contact management.

What makes multi-channel marketing platforms like SendPulse better than traditional email-only services?

Multi-channel marketing platforms like SendPulse make it easier to connect with your audience across different channels, including email, SMS, and web push notifications. By reaching people where they already are, these tools can help increase engagement and drive more conversions.

What sets these platforms apart is their ability to deliver personalized and consistent messaging. This not only enhances customer relationships but also builds loyalty over time. Unlike email-only services, multi-channel tools offer more flexibility, making your marketing efforts both broader in scope and more effective.