Finding the right email marketing software can be a daunting task given there are so many platforms to choose from. Deciding which software is best for you and your business may take a bit of time and effort, but it is well worth spending your time on this task.
In this article, we will be comparing two of the most popular email marketing platforms – Mailchimp and SendGrid.
Pricing
At the end of the day, cost is key- and no one can beat Mailchimp in this department. They offer a variety of attractive pricing options, especially for those just stepping into the email marketing arena. Their low cost plans are perfect for startups and small businesses who may be working with a small budget. Mailchimp gives you a forever free plan capped at 2,000 users and 12,000 emails per month. The next level is affordably priced at $10 per month.
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Similarly, SendGrid offers a basic plan for free. For the first 30 days, one can send 40,000 emails. After, it is limited to 100 emails per day. Moreover, the core email API features and campaign marketing features are included in this option. If you only need to send 100 emails a day, then SendGrid is a great option. If extra bandwidth is needed, the next level is priced at $9.95 per month for 10,000 users and 100,000 emails.
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Features
Mailchimp offers a vast selection of templates, which make it extremely to design attractive emails. You have the option to customize these templates via color, font, organization, and more! If you are looking to create emails from scratch, their platform allows you to show off your HTML coding skills as well! Overall, with Mailchimp you can rest assured your email designs will pop.
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SendGrid also offers many aesthetic email templates to choose from. There is an option to import a preexisting HTML page, or you use the drag and drop editor to create a new template. A downside to SendGrid is their maximum limit of templates per user ID! Each user ID has a maximum of 300 transactional templates and versions. A limitation users don’t have with Mailchimp.
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With Mailchimp, you will receive detailed analytics on open rates, click through rates, and the most clicked links in your email. If you run multiple campaigns at a time, you can compare reports which will help you determine which campaigns are most effective.
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Like Mailchimp, SendGrid also has a dashboard that tracks open/click through rates, number of unsubscribed users, browser comparison statistics, device statistics etc. It also allows you to track the number of spam reports, so you will be able to tweak your marketing campaigns accordingly.
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Which one should you use?
Both Mailchimp and SendGrid are great platforms for different reasons. Mailchimp is especially suited for new businesses that want to test the waters or small businesses whose number of emails are limited to less than 12,000 a month. If this sounds like your company, consider giving it a try! It is easy to sign up, so give it a go and see for yourself. Sign up here to get started.
