Comparing the pros and cons of the 7 best free autoresponder tools in 2023

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Looking for free autoresponder tools to send automated emails?

The good news is that you don't have to wait until your website generates revenue. There are many free autoresponders available that can help you expand your email list.

This article will guide you through some of the best free autoresponder tools, outlining their advantages and disadvantages for comparison.



Why You Need an Autoresponder Email Service


An autoresponder is a tool or service that automatically sends messages to the people on your email list. Savvy marketers use autoresponders to develop a sequence of emails and then schedule those messages to be sent automatically based on specific rules, conditions, and user actions.

For instance, if you're creating a "coming soon" webpage, you may ask visitors to express their interest by entering their email addresses.



Afterward, you can use an autoresponder to inform these people when your website becomes available. This can attract additional visitors and generate excitement around the launch of your site.

Numerous bloggers leverage an autoresponder sequence to greet new subscribers or alert existing subscribers about new WordPress posts.

Several plugins feature built-in autoresponder capabilities. For example, if you're using WPForms, you can send a confirmation email via the plugin's built-in functions after a WordPress form is submitted.



Another choice is to employ a separate autoresponder. With the appropriate autoresponder, you can construct advanced workflows that automatically dispatch the appropriate email to the appropriate person at the appropriate time.

These automated emails can rekindle the interest of uninterested customers, boost sales, increase website traffic, and achieve much more.

Most leading email marketing firms provide autoresponders. Nonetheless, if you're just starting, investing in email marketing can significantly increase the expenses of building your website.

In light of that, let's evaluate some of the best free autoresponder tools that can help you begin, regardless of your budget.


1. Constant Contact



Our top recommendation for developing autoresponder sequences is Constant Contact, which we consider to be the best email marketing service available.

Pros:

-Constant Contact's free trial period lasts a generous 60 days, allowing you to build up your email list and start earning money through WordPress blogging.
-Signing up for the free trial doesn't require you to enter your credit card details, so you won't be charged unless you actively decide to continue using Constant Contact.
-Creating an account is quick and easy. After providing a few details, Constant Contact will offer helpful resources based on your answers.
-If you have a WordPress site, Constant Contact can create a unique branded email template by inputting your website's URL and using the colors, images, and logos from your site.
-Choose from over 100 pre-made email templates.
The drag-and-drop interface is user-friendly, which is particularly helpful for email marketing beginners.
-Constant Contact's support team is easily accessible via live chat, phone, and email.
-They also provide a library of resources and online training, and if you're in the United States, you can attend in-person live seminars.

Cons:

-Constant Contact doesn't have a free-forever plan. After the 60-day free trial, you'll need to pay to continue using your email list. However, you can get a 20% discount using our Constant Contact coupon if you enjoyed the trial and want to continue.
-To access the automated features after the free trial, you'll need to subscribe to the Email Plus plan.



2. Sendinblue




Sendinblue is a marketing automation platform that offers a combination of email and SMS marketing, allowing you to communicate with your WordPress users via text messages.

This rapidly-growing email autoresponder service is highly popular in Europe.

Pros:

-Sendinblue's free plan is very generous, with no limit on the number of email contacts you can store. However, there is a daily limit on the number of emails you can send.
-Most of Sendinblue's features are available on the free plan, including marketing automation tools.
-The Workflow Editor has a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface that lets you create complex automations easily, without having to write any code.
-You can track user behavior on your website and use it to trigger automated emails.
-Sendinblue offers over 40 mobile-responsive email templates that can be customized with a simple drag-and-drop editor.
You can upload HTML templates provided by your clients to save time on campaign creation.
-Email support is available on the free plan.

Cons:

-The free plan has some limitations, such as the Sendinblue branding on all emails, and a daily email sending limit.
-Although marketing automation is available on the free plan, it is limited to 2000 contacts, making it difficult to scale your email list.
-The paid Starter plan still has the Sendinblue branding, but you can remove it by purchasing a $9 per month addon.


3. HubSpot



HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing platform with a free plan that offers a comprehensive CRM system for small businesses.

Pros:

-The free plan includes a CRM that creates a contact record for each subscriber. This allows for personalized email campaigns with relevant subject lines, links, attachments, and content.
-HubSpot's free plan also includes complementary tools like form builder, live chat, ad management, and more.
-The email editor features a drag-and-drop interface that enables easy customization of calls to action, images, and branding.
-Scheduling emails to arrive at the best time regardless of the subscriber's time zone is a key feature.
-HubSpot's goal-based templates can be customized or built from scratch.
-Email analytics tool enables analysis of campaigns for optimization.
-Integration with Uncanny Automator helps small businesses to automatically add visitors, customers, and event attendees to their HubSpot mailing lists.

Cons:

-HubSpot branding cannot be removed on the free plan, which may detract from the professional image of a business.
-The free plan limits users to 2,000 emails per month and 1,000,000 contacts.
-Advanced features such as A/B split testing and email segmentation are only available in the higher-tiered paid plans. Upgrading to a paid plan may be necessary for businesses that grow beyond the limitations of the free plan.


4. Omnisend



Omnisend provides a comprehensive autoresponder solution for businesses that operate across various channels, such as SMS, email marketing, and web push notifications. It offers pre-built autoresponders for workflows like cart abandonment and purchase follow-up, making it an ideal choice for online marketplaces, digital and physical product stores, and other eCommerce businesses.

One of the advantages of Omnisend is that it includes all marketing automation features in its free plan. This plan also allows for an unlimited number of triggers in your automation workflows, dynamic content personalization, and drag-and-drop automation editor to create custom workflows. Additionally, pre-built automations are available to welcome new signups, and you can segment users based on different stages of the customer lifecycle, making it an excellent option for eCommerce sites.

Furthermore, Omnisend offers sales and performance reports, including open, click, deliverability rates, and revenue data for each autoresponder. There is 24/7 email and live chat support available for all users.

However, there are some drawbacks to the free plan. It limits you to 500 emails per month, 60 SMS, and 500 web push notifications. If you want to send more messages, you'll need to upgrade to the Standard or Pro plan, starting at $16 per month. Additionally, if you plan to use SMS autoresponders, you will need to purchase SMS credits separately.

Lastly, the free plan comes with a built-in form builder and signup forms, but it doesn't provide an option to remove the Omnisend branding.

In terms of pricing, Omnisend's free plan includes 500 emails per month, up to 60 SMS, and 500 web push notifications, with an unlimited number of contacts. The Standard and Pro plans start at $16 and $59 per month, respectively, for businesses that require more messages.


5. FunnelKit Automations



FunnelKit Automations, previously known as Autonami, is a marketing automation tool that focuses on WooCommerce stores and provides free access to create automated emails and SMS campaigns for recovering abandoned carts, lead nurturing, and automated coupons.

Pros:

-No restrictions on the number of contacts or emails you can send.
-You can use any email service provider such as Mailgun, SendGrid, Postmark, or Sendinblue.
-The plugin allows you to create automations from scratch using the drag-and-drop editor, or you can import pre-built automations with a single click.
-You can send welcome emails to new users and educate them on how to use your site.
-You can re-engage with disinterested customers using automated win-back and first purchase anniversary campaigns.
-You can create post-purchase follow-up emails and recommend product emails to upsell and cross-sell to customers.
-The plugin provides detailed information on recoverable, recovered, and lost carts, helping you create effective cart recovery campaigns.
-You can customize all of WooCommerce's built-in emails using the drag-and-drop workflow builder.
-The plugin automatically inserts an 'unsubscribe text' into all emails to ensure GDPR compliance.
-You can send targeted emails using audience segmentation and personalized merge tags.
-The plugin provides useful analytics, such as email open and click-through rates, inside the FunnelKit dashboard.
-You can easily import contacts from a CSV file if you have already used an email marketing tool or CRM.

Cons:

-The free version of the plugin only provides access to a limited number of pre-built automations, and to unlock over 20 extra automations, you need to upgrade to FunnelKit Automations Pro.
-You cannot create conditions-based automations with the free plugin, making it challenging to create personalized autoresponder sequences.
-Advanced analytics and customer tracking in WooCommerce require an upgrade to FunnelKit Automations Pro.
The Pro version adds CRM-like features, including detailed contact profiles that show each person's latest engagement, total spend, last order date, and more.
-Advanced analytic and reporting features, such as seeing your top-performing automations, most popular emails, total orders, and total revenue, are exclusive to the Pro version.
-The Pro version integrates with many popular WordPress plugins, including LearnDash, WishList Member, AffiliateWP, and more.


6. AWeber



AWeber, founded in 1998, is a well-established autoresponder tool known for its powerful email marketing services. It also offers a free plan that enables users to send up to 3,000 emails per month to a maximum of 500 subscribers.

Pros:

-AWeber's free plan provides access to premium plan features, such as a drag-and-drop editor, numerous templates, and a vast selection of professional stock images.
-The AWeber WordPress plugin makes it easy to integrate AWeber into your WordPress website, with installation assistance available.
-Pre-built landing page templates enable the creation of high-converting landing pages for email campaigns.
-AWeber's automation and segmentation tools are robust and allow for the creation of detailed autoresponder series.
-AWeber seamlessly integrates with a range of services, including OptinMonster, Unbounce, Elegant Themes, and many others.
-For online retailers, AWeber integrates with popular eCommerce solutions such as Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce, Etsy, and more.
-Free plan subscribers have access to all support information, including live webinars and master class sessions.
-AWeber continually introduces new features that are available to all customers, including free plan users.
-The AMP interactive email feature enables subscribers to complete forms, purchase products, book meetings, and more without leaving their inbox.
-Web push notifications can be sent to those who opt-in to receive them.
-Customer support is available 24/7.

Cons:

-AWeber's free plan limits users to 3,000 emails per month and 500 subscribers.
-The free version only allows for one landing page and one email automation.
-The free plan displays AWeber branding that cannot be removed.
-While AWeber offers more features than some other email autoresponders, it is not the most affordable option available. Upgrading to a paid plan comes at a cost.


7. MailerLite



Over the last few years, MailerLite has emerged as a popular autoresponder tool that offers great features and a generous free plan.

Pros

-MailerLite's free plan offers advanced segmentation and autoresponders without any upgrade needed, making it a great option for businesses on a budget.
-The free plan includes many features, such as landing pages, multi-user accounts, and A/B split testing, allowing you to analyze which campaigns lead to the most conversions.
-There is no limit on the number of daily emails sent, only a monthly limit of 12,000 emails.
-Personalize your email newsletters by segmenting your mailing list and assigning different blocks of content to specific target audiences.
-Create emails with ease using the drag-and-drop editor and pre-built blocks without writing any code.
-Built-in triggers enable you to automatically send emails to subscribers based on their actions such as joining a group, completing a form, or clicking a link.
-Special eCommerce triggers are available to users running an online store, allowing you to create emails to recover abandoned cart sales, cross-sell and upsell products in WooCommerce, and more.
-Include up to 3 triggers to every email workflow, enabling subscribers to enter the workflow at multiple points.
Connect MailerLite and WooCommerce using the MailerLite extension.

Cons

-The free plan does not provide any special email templates, only a simple default template with a space for a logo, header, image, and other essential content.
-If your mailing list grows beyond 1,000 subscribers, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan.
-The MailerLite logo will appear on all your emails, which may not be ideal for your brand image.
-Free plan users only receive email support on weekdays, unlike paid plans, which have 24/7 support.


Bonus: ConvertKit




ConvertKit offers a free plan that enables users to create unlimited landing pages and opt-in forms, which is great for starting to build an email list. However, the automation features are not available on the free plan.

Despite this limitation, ConvertKit is a popular email marketing solution that offers a 14-day free trial with access to automation features. Here are some pros and cons of using ConvertKit:

Pros:

-The free plan includes unlimited landing pages, email opt-in forms, and one-time email blasts.
-Automatic delivery of digital downloads to new subscribers is possible.
-Segmentation of subscribers can be done in multiple ways, and tags can be assigned based on various criteria.
-A drag-and-drop page builder with 30 fully-customizable templates makes it easy to create attractive landing pages.
-All templates are responsive, meaning they will look good on different devices.
-Creating a free account is quick and easy.
-List growth reporting enables the identification of forms and pages that are generating the most email signups.
-Unsubscribe pages can be customized to reduce the number of people opting out of the mailing list.
Cons:

-The free plan is limited to 1,000 subscribers.
-Automation features are not available on the free plan, requiring an upgrade to a paid plan to access autoresponders.


Bonus: Mailchimp



Mailchimp is a popular email marketing service with a free forever plan, but it is limited in terms of its autoresponder features when compared to other providers in our list. Despite this, we cannot exclude Mailchimp from our list of the best autoresponders due to its popularity.

Pros:

-Automatically import branding elements from your website to create branded emails
-Create signup forms and landing pages to grow your email list
-Analyze your campaigns with built-in reports and analytics
-Integrates with over 300 apps, including Canva, LiveChat, Help Scout, Stripe, and more
-Built-in drag-and-drop templates for easy customization
Cons:

The free plan limits you to 2,500 emails per month and includes branding in your emails and signup forms
-You can't schedule emails, create automated workflows, or add branching points to your email series without upgrading to a paid plan
-Segmentation and dynamic content are premium features
-Customer support, pricing structure, and features are not the best in the market
-Mailchimp's automation tools are not as powerful as its competitors, which can be a problem if you need advanced autoresponder features.


We recommend checking out our list of Mailchimp alternatives if you're looking for a more robust autoresponder solution. However, if you do choose to use Mailchimp, we've created an ultimate guide to using Mailchimp and WordPress to help you get started.


Choosing the Free Autoresponder That Suits You Best


Yes, that's right. Choosing the right free autoresponder tool for your business will depend on your specific needs and goals. It's important to consider factors such as the size of your email list, the type of content you plan to send, and the level of automation you require.

For example, if you're just starting out and have a smaller email list, ConvertKit's free plan might be a good option since it includes unlimited landing pages and opt-in forms. But if you need more advanced automation features, you might want to consider using a tool like Sendinblue's free plan, which allows you to create complex automation workflows.

Ultimately, the best way to choose the right free autoresponder tool for your business is to research and compare different options, and consider how they align with your specific needs and goals.

Small Businesses


If you're a small business owner looking for a free autoresponder tool with quality support and a powerful platform, Constant Contact is a great option. With a 60-day free trial, you have plenty of time to try out all their features without entering your credit card information. They offer support via phone, live chat, Twitter, and have a knowledge base and support portal.

For eCommerce businesses running on WooCommerce, FunnelKit Marketing Automation Engine & CRM offers pre-built automations, triggers, and actions tailored to eCommerce autoresponders.

However, if you have a bigger budget and are an established business, we recommend looking at advanced options like Omnisend or Drip. While they don't offer a free option, they provide advanced segmentation and powerful automation features.


Non-Profits and Community Organizations


If your organization is a non-profit or community group, you may require a free autoresponder and email marketing tool. SendinBlue is an excellent choice for small email lists of up to 300 subscribers, whom you intend to email more than once a week. On the other hand, MailerLite is more suitable for larger lists that you want to email weekly or less frequently. However, if you place a high value on phone support, then Constant Contact is the way to go, as it provides all the support that many non-profits need. It's worth noting that we have tested all major email autoresponder software, including ActiveCampaign, GetResponse, Ontraport, Mailjet, Campaign Monitor, InfusionSoft (now Keap), Klaviyo, Marketo, Eloqua, Pardot by Salesforce, Sendloop, iContact, Emma, TotalSend, SharpSpring, MailPoet, and others. We have included only those email marketing platforms in our list that provide the best automation workflows, deliverability, and pre-built email marketing tools at the best price.


Make Sure Your Emails Make It Through


If you plan to use an autoresponder or email marketing service on your website, it's crucial to ensure that your emails are delivered to the recipient's inbox and not marked as spam. A reliable SMTP service provider can help you improve your email deliverability. You can also use the WP Mail SMTP WordPress plugin to configure your WordPress emails correctly.



For more information on this topic, you can refer to our guide on how to fix the WordPress not sending email issue. We hope this article has provided you with useful insights into the best free autoresponder tools available. Additionally, you may find our guides on creating automated workflows in WordPress and comparing the best business phone services for small businesses helpful.

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