The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Autoresponder
Welcome to The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Autoresponder for 2022 and Beyond.
If you are building an online business, you are going to need an autoresponder for your email marketing campaigns.
My favorite program for building an online business is Wealthy Affiliate, and while they provide most of what you need, they do not provide an autoresponder.
Here's the problem...
You do a google search for best autoresponder and the results that are returned are just lists of autoresponders that affiliates are trying to promote.
Everyone is looking for the best autoresponder, but best for what?
Some of you are looking for the best free autoresponder, some are looking for the best cheap autoresponder, some of you are looking for the best autoresponder for affiliate marketing and some of you are looking for the best autoresponder regardless of cost.
So I've decided to publish this guide so that you can find the answers to all of your questions about autoresponders for your email marketing campaigns.
You can use the table of contents below to jump to a particular section that interests you. Just click on the link for that section
Best Autoresponder Comparison Chart
Pricing Options | |||||||
FREE Option? | 30 Day Free Trial | Free up to 2500 subscribers, but many features are not included. | 30 Day Free Trial | Forever Free up to 1000 subscribers, all premium features included. | 14 Day Free Trial | 60 Day Free Trial | No Free Option |
Monthly Pricing for Full Features | $15/month up to 1000 subscribers. $49/month up to 5000. $165/month up to 10000. | $15/month up to 1000 subscribers $50/month up to 5000. $75/month up to 10000. | $19/month up to 500 subscribers $49/month up to 5000. $69/month up to 10000. | FREE up to 1000 subscribers. $20/month up to 5000. $35/month up to 10000. | $25/month up to 1000 subscribers. $89/month up to 5000. $139/month up to 10000. | $45/month up to 500 subscribers. $95/month up to 5000. $125/month up to 10000 | $199/month up to 2500 subscribers. $299/month up to 5000. $379/month up to 10000. |
Features | GetResponse | MailChimp | AWeber | MailerLite | Sendlane | ConstantContact | InfusionSoft |
Drag and Drop Editor | |||||||
Email Templates | |||||||
Add Video to Email | |||||||
Mobile Preview | |||||||
Autoresponder | Only with Paid Plans | ||||||
Auto Resend | |||||||
RSS Campaigns | |||||||
Landing Pages | |||||||
Unsubscribe Page Builder | |||||||
Automated Split Testing | Limited with Paid plans | ||||||
Click Map | |||||||
List Segmentation | |||||||
Import Mail List | |||||||
Required Opt-In | Single/Double | Single/Double | Single/Double | Single/Double | Single/Double | Single/Double | Double |
Customer Support | Phone, email, community support | No support for free plan. Email, chat 8am-6pm ET for paid plans | Phone, email, chat support | 24/7 Email and Chat Support | 24/7 365 Email and Chat Support | Phone, email, chat support | Cell content |
What is an Autoresponder?
An autoresponder is the common terminology for a company offering email marketing services. The autoresponder company offers to collect and store your email addresses while allowing you to create and send emails to your subscribers.
This is a very brief synopsis of the commonly held definition of an autoresponder. Many autoresponder companies offer a whole host of services related to email marketing.
Tips for Choosing the Best Autoresponder
1. Evaluate your needs - There is no sense in signing up for a very expensive autoresponder company that offers everything under the sun if you don't need many of the services they offer. A good example would be Infusionsoft. They are an awesome company that provides a huge range of high quality services, but you will end up paying hundreds of dollars per month for services you don't need. If you are a beginner or fairly new to email marketing, consider using a free autoresponder.
2. Consider your budget - Once you understand your autoresponder needs, you can then cross reference those needs with your budget and find the best email marketing solution for your situation.
3. Take a Test Drive - Find the autoresponders that meet your needs and sign up for a free trial with as many as you like. Try each one of them before deciding on which company gets your business. This is a big decision for your business and it should be made by gathering as much information as possible.
I have been successfully involved with email marketing since 2007 and in that time I have tried my share of the best autoresponders. Below I will share my findings to help you navigate the wide array of email marketing companies and find the best autoresponder for you.
Best Free Autoresponder
Our pick for the best free autoresponder was really quite simple as there is only one autoresponder above that offers a forever free account with complete access to all of the premium features.
MailerLite is the only autoresponder company that offers a forever free plan for up to 1000 subscriber with full access to all of the features. This makes it the best email marketing software for beginners.
Not only does it offer all of the premium features in the free account, it also is the only email marketing company in our autoresponder comparison table above to check off every feature on the list.
Here are some of the top features that make MailerLite our choice for the Best Free Autoresponder.
- Drag and Drop Editor
- Email Templates
- Mobile Friendly Emails
- Video Embeds
- Subscriber Management
- Subscriber Notifications
- Click Map
- List Segmentation
- Built in Photo Editor
- RSS Campaigns
- Tracking and Campaign Reports
- Automated A/B Split Testing
- Web Forms
- Workflow Automations
- Auto Resend
- Popups
- Unsubscribe Page Builder
- Landing Pages
- File Manager
- Iphone App
- Ipad App
- API
- And much more!
No other Autoresponder offers its customers this much value for free!
Go here to see our full MailerLite review!
The only other email marketing company that we could consider for the best free email marketing solution would be MailChimp.
MailChimp does have a free option for up to 2500 subscribers, but the problem is that MailChimp does not include access to all of its features in the free option.
One of the features that MailChimp does not include with its free option is Autoresponders!
So, yes you can have a free account with MailChimp, but you cannot set up an autoresponder to automatically send emails to your subscribers. You can send them emails, but it all has to be done manually.
Therefore, we cannot recommend MailChimp.
Go here for a detailed comparison of MailerLite vs MailChimp.
Best Cheap Autoresponder
Once again as we look at the best autoresponder comparison table, there is only one email marketing company that stands out when we are looking for the best cheap autoresponder.
Once we get past the free options, we can look at the monthly cost and the features included. At this point, the best cheap email marketing solution becomes apparent.
The one thing that you want to be careful of when choosing the best cheap solution is you want to make sure that you are getting the features that you need.
Clearly this is not an issue with MailerLite, as it is the most feature rich autoresponder on our list.
With MailerLite, setting up your autoresponder is as simple as dragging and dropping blocks that state what they do into a workflow, as you can see in the image.
I can tell you that I saved $40 per month by switching from MailChimp to MailerLite. I also found MailerLite to be very user friendly, with easy integrations and awesome deliverability.
MailerLite is a no-brainer in our choice for best cheap autoresponder.
Best Autoresponder for Affiliate Marketing
Choosing the best autoresponder for affiliate marketing can be tricky.
Here's why...
Many autoresponders state in their terms of use that they do not allow affiliate marketing.
The big question is...
How is that interpreted?
I have used a number of autoresponders for my affiliate marketing business that state they do not allow affiliate marketing and have never had a problem.
I think that these companies are concerned about spammy, thin affiliate sites that do not offer any value.
Which, let's face it, nobody likes!
They are also concerned with the fact that your emails are used simply to send affiliate links in order to make sales. The emails should provide value first and if an affiliate link would add to that value, then it is allowed.
MailChimp clearly states that affiliate marketing is not allowed. Couple that with the fact that I personally know marketers that have had their accounts banned by MailChimp for the practice and MailChimp will have to be removed from the Best Autoresponder for Affiliate Marketing list.
Our top pick for best autoresponder for affiliate marketing is going to GetResponse.
I used GetResponse for years and I was very happy with their service. I started with the Free 30 day Trial and during that time I went through their free course entitled 10,000 Subscribers in 90 Days!
Go Here to Sign up for the course free of charge!
The course is fantastic for learning everything about email marketing and the GetResponse interface was easy to use after a little bit of a learning curve.
The good part is they have lots of videos that show you how do do things so that you can always find help with tasks quickly.
A close runner up for best autoresponder for affiliate marketing would have to be Sendlane.
Sendlane was started by internet marketers and as a result, has quickly been rising to the top of the list of the best email marketing companies.
In 2019, with the launch of Sendlane 3.0, they may well surpass all other email marketing companies as the best communication platform of choice.
You can learn more about Sendlane at my Sendlane Review.
I have mentioned Aweber in the past.
While I have never personally used Aweber, I have many friends in the affiliate marketing business that swear by them.
Let me tell you a story about why I have never used Aweber.
Years ago, when I was first looking for an autoresponder for my business, I did a vast amount of research and had narrowed my choice down to Aweber and GetResponse.
So, I signed up for a 30 day free trial with both companies to take a test drive and see which one was going to work best for me.
I immediately received a welcome email from GetResponse, but I received nothing from Aweber!
It took three days and a couple of calls to support before I ever received a welcome email from Aweber!
How could I depend on them to send a welcome email to my subscribers when they couldn't even get it right for their subscribers!
Anyway, end of rant...
I stayed with GetResponse and was happy for years.
Go here for a full GetResponse Review.
Best Autoresponder 2018
Choosing the best autoresponder for 2018 was one of the tougher jobs for this article. All of the email marketing companies above are high quality autoresponders and should be considered.
Perhaps the easiest way to determine the best autoresponder for 2018 is to start eliminating companies because of glaring issues.
For instance, we can eliminate InfusionSoft right off the bat. Not because it isn't one of the best email marketing companies, but simply because the cost puts it out of reach for most of your average marketers.
Don't get me wrong, InfusionSoft is awesome, but when we are choosing the best Autoresponder for 2018, we have to evaluate cost as one of the criteria.
The next one that we can rule out is MailChimp.
I know... I Know....
MailChimp is one of the most popular email marketing companies out there, but is not because they are the best autoresponder. It is because they are the best marketers.
If you look at the Comparison Table above, you will see that MailChimp does not stack up.
Once we really look closely at the autoresponder comparison table, it becomes very clear that there is only one email marketing company that can be the best autoresponder for 2018.
MailerLite!
I'm not going to go through all the reasons again, but I believe that if you try MailerLite, you are going to be very impressed with what they have to offer.
Best Autoresponder 2019
2018 was a year of innovation and change in the email marketing industry and when the dust settled, a very clear picture began to develop of which company was rising to the top.
Far and away, the leader in innovation and ease of use has to go to Sendlane.
I know... I Know....
Last year it was MailerLite, which is still a great choice for those looking for the best free autoresponder, but they can't hold a candle to Sendlane when it comes to the paid version.
Sendlane is evolving into more than just an email marketing platform. They are rewriting the rules and becoming a communication and data company.
In 2019 they are offering SMS communication as well as mining data from subscribers that goes well beyond email and name.
They are following your subscribers and "seeing" their purchasing habits, how long they attended webinars and so much more!
I love what Sendlane is doing and they are the clear choice for the best autoresponder 2019!
Click the button below for my full Sendlane Review.
Best Autoresponder 2020
The pick for best autoresponder 2020 has to go to GetResponse.
I have been using GetResponse for a number of years now and they continue to impress me with their innovation, all while maintaining a very affordable price for the services that they provide.
I also love the drag and drop autoresponder, where I can move my messages around and re-order them simply and efficiently.
I have found the GetResponse integrations to be very easy to set up and they work flawlessly.
Deliverabilty is spot on and I love the functionality and ease of use.
They do offer a risk free 30 day trial as well as one of the best email marketing courses included free of charge!
Add all of these up and you can see why we chose GetResponse for best autoresponder 2020.
Best Autoresponder 2021
GetResponse remains our top pick for best autoresponder 2021.
The pandemic of 2020 has greatly increased the number of people joining online marketing and email marketing.
GetResponse has kept up beautifully with the increased demand and also kept their prices in check.
They are constantly adding valuable email marketing training as well as great new features.
I currently have around 1500 subscribers from one of my niches that are with Mailerlite and I am in the process of moving them all to GetResponse because i am so pleased with them.
I am extremely confident in naming GetResponse: Best Autoresponder 2021!
Best Autoresponder Regardless of Cost
I'll be the first to admit that I have always wanted to use the best autoresponder regardless of cost. Unfortunately that is only reserved for the big guys that don't mind spending upwards of $500 per month for an autoresponder.
That's a car payment for gods sake!
And a nice car at that!
Anyway, our pick for the best email marketing company regardless of cost has to be infusionSoft.
I've always been a little jealous of my friends that use Infusionsoft, because it looks like a pretty cool solution to a lot of needs for the internet marketer.
Yes, Infusionsoft is the best choice regardless of cost, but it is also much more than an autoresponder.
Infusionsoft is a complete customer relationship management (CRM) solution that does everything from sales management to customer management, ecommerce solutions, affiliate management and more.
By the way, I am not an affiliate of Infusionsoft, just a big, honest fan that prides himself on providing the best content for his readers.
I will say that Infusionsoft better stay on top of their game because Sendlane is quickly catching up and if they continue on the same trajectory, they will pass Infusionsoft in the not so distant future!
Summary
Well we have covered a lot of ground in our quest for the best email marketing solution for your business. We have looked at some of the old stand byes as well as a relative newcomer on the scene.
We spent a great deal of time researching and creating the Best Autoresponder Comparison Table above and once all of the data was plugged in, it became visually evident which companies were the superior autoresponders.
Let's recap...
- Best Free Autoresponder - MailerLite
- Best Cheap AutoResponder - MailerLite
- Best Autoresponder for Affiliate Marketing - GetResponse
- Best Autoresponder 2018 - MailerLite
- Best Autoresponder 2019 - Sendlane
- Best Autoresponder 2020 - GetResponse
- Best Autoresponder 2021 - GetResponse
- Best Autoresponder Regardless of Cost - InfusionSoft
We hope that you have found our Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Autoresponder useful and valuable.
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Please share your autoresponder experiences, good and bad in the comments below.
Like your review thinking of joining mailerlite since I just started. One question, is mailerlite forbid Affiliate site?
Hey SK,
Thanks for your question!
The practice that most autoresponder companies don’t like is using affiliate links in your emails and sending visitors to other affiliate sites. I have been using MailerLite for a long time and I send my subscribers to my site. The affiliate links are in my articles and blog posts. It seems that this is OK to do, as I have never had a problem.
Remember to focus on helping your subscribers by providing them with relevant information and the sales will come. If you are focused on sending them to affiliate links, you will fail.
I hope this helps helps and thank you for asking a great question and adding value to my Best Autoresponder Guide!
John
Hi John,
Greetings.
And thanks for the painstaking compilation, comparing most of the well known AutoResponders.
But may I know, why you chose GetResponse as the best for Affiliate Marketing,
when MailerLite has 4 additional features that GetResponse does not have?
In other words,what are the special features that GetResponse has, for doing Affiliate Marketing,
which MailerLite does not have?
Thanks and Regards,
Vijay
Hi Vijay,
Thanks for the great question!
The main reason why I chose GetResponse over Mailerlite is because I use both of them for my email marketing campaigns and I not only like GetResponse better, but I also see a much better conversion rate from GetResponse.
I am not sure why this is. It may be a deliverability issue, but I have no proof of this.
Hope this helps!
Best,
JV
I’m guessing I will need Hosting for this free Website?
John
Hi John,
Great question, but free hosting is included with the free website. You should check it out and see for yourself.
All that is required is an email to sign up, no credit card!
Sign up and have a look around. I think you will be impressed.
Thanks again John,
JV
JV, I have to say, you are a gentleman and a scholar for taking this huge amount of time out to produce this excellent review. Which is extremely comprehensive, user friendly and straight to the point with specific facts. THANK YOU.