10 Mass Email Services that Can Change Your Approach to Email Marketing
Today we’re exploring some of the most popular mass email services so you can discover which one is the best to promote your business.
Are you using email to grow your business through marketing or sales? If you are, then you’ve probably already noticed that sending emails to many recipients from a Gmail account is more difficult than you thought. Not only that but as your business grows it will become more and more difficult to scale. That is, of course, until you find the best mass email service that works for your business. However, before we start exploring the different mass email plugins that you can choose from, we should start by examining exactly what mass email plugins are and the basic features that will benefit your business. Together, we’ll discover exactly how the right mass email service will help you drive sales, create exceptional marketing campaigns, and grow your business.
What is a Mass Email Service and Why Do I Need One?
If you aren’t yet familiar with the features and benefits of mass email services, now is the time to learn!
Trying to send mass emails without a mass email service is like riding a bike that has no wheels—you’re not going to get very far. Without a mass email service, every step of the process from importing your contacts to sending your messages is difficult—especially at scale. So, what exactly is a mass email service and how does it make sending mass emails easier than ever?
A mass email service is a software plugin that is integrated into your email provider of choice, in most cases either Gmail or Outlook—though Gmail is more of a mass email industry standard. Using a mass email tool, you can schedule hundreds of emails at once with just a few clicks.
Sending bulk emails isn’t the only thing your mass email service is good for—it will also gather key email performance metrics that will help you inform future email campaigns. That means that after your most recent email campaign, you can access data on recipient engagement, delivery rate, click-through rate, and more—all from a single plugin.
What Are the Basic Features of Mass Email Service?
Though not all mass email plugins are equal, they do all share a set of basic bulk sending features
Before we get started exploring the nuances of the many different mass email plugins you can choose from, we should take a moment to take a broad look at the baseline features that these services include. It should be noted that email marketing is not easy, so these features are vital for the success of an email campaign. Let’s take a look at these key features every mass email service should have:
- Recipient behavior reporting - Mass email plugins will pull metrics on how your recipients interact with your messages.
- Automated workflows - Tasks like importing new addresses become automated.
- Easy email design - Most services prioritize making email design as user-friendly as possible.
- Options to easily personalize messages - Personalization for mass emails is essential for audience engagement and a high delivery rate.
- A/B testing - you can use a mass email service to test different aspects of your bulk emails like subject lines and message content.
Having these tools on your side is essential for any email marketer. If you are preparing your first mass email campaign, you need to make sure that your mass email service has these features. Luckily, all of the services we’ll be discussing check these boxes—and many more. Let’s get started looking at 10 of the most popular mass email plugins and breaking them down by their features and pricing. First up, we’re going to be exploring GMass!
1. GMass
GMass is a mass email service designed effortlessly to send all types of mass emails—and you can try it for free!
If you are looking for a powerful mass email service that can maximize your deliverability rate, then look no further than GMass. GMass has some of the most powerful reporting features on the market and can help you easily execute a mail merge, personalize messages, schedule messages, verify your address list, and more! One of the key features of GMass that separates it from several other competitors is that you can try it out for free. There is a monthly payment option to access all of the premium features, but the free option is perfect for those just starting. So, if you need help getting started sending mass emails, GMass is a great way to get basic tasks like segmentation and message design started for free.
Another excellent feature that comes with GMass is the ability to expand your reach by surpassing Gmail’s sending limits. Without the help of a mass email service, Gmail limits how many messages you can send in 24 hour periods. If you are a novice mass emailer, it is easy to accidentally surpass this limit and hurt your address reputation.
GMass works around these limitations by automatically sending any messages that exceed the 500 message limit over the course of the next few days. That means all of your messages will be sent, and you won’t have to worry about accidentally exceeding the limit and damaging your email sender reputation.
If you're new to mass emails and want to see how GMass works for you, then what are you waiting for? You can download and begin using the plugin for free! If you’re ready to upgrade to the paid version, then you’ll be able to access all of these features:
- Break Gmail’s sending limits
- Permeate spam filters for cold emails
- Message personalization
- Open tracking and click tracking
- Custom campaign-level reports
- Scheduling
- Mailing list management
- Intuitive composing
- Test Mode
The paid option for GMass will run you $19.95/month for the standard paid option, with enterprise options ranging up to $49.95/month. To experience one of the best mass email services, try GMass for free before you purchase a plan to make sure it is the right fit for your upcoming campaigns.
2. Amazon SES (Simple Email Service)
Next, up we’re discussing the bulk email option from Amazon
Amazon SES is another useful tool in Amazon’s extensive business suite. Image courtesy of Medium.
The mass email service Amazon SES, provided by Amazon, is a great option if you are looking for simple, easy-to-use features and a high deliverability rate. The service provides basic tracking and reporting including bounce and unsubscribe rates.
The real star of this service is its ability to authenticate email addresses, which leads to a high deliverability rate. As we previously mentioned, deliverability is key because if your emails aren’t being delivered, your campaign is essentially useless. Not only that, but if you are sending messages to inactive or nonexistent addresses, your address reputation takes a hit. When your email sender reputation is damaged, it becomes more difficult to run successful campaigns.
Amazon SES is also one of the more affordable options and is billed based on use. For every 1,000 messages you send or receive, you’ll pay $0.10. This is a good option for very small businesses looking for a low-cost option, but you will sacrifice some of the higher-level features that some of the other options offer.
3. Elastic Email
Design stunning emails using Elastic Email as your mass email plugin
Create exceptional messages in Elastic Email. Image courtesy of The Motley Fool.
Elastic Email comes with the standard features you’d expect from the average email plugin. However, there is one feature that sets this option apart from the crowd—the message editor. If you struggle designing messages for mass email campaigns, then this is the right service for you.
The editor included with Elastic Email gives you the power to effortlessly integrate things like opt-in forms and surveys into your emails. These tools help set small businesses apart from their competitors because it is so easy to design high-quality newsletters, sales emails, and marketing emails. Additional email integrations also help you steadily grow your mailing list for sales emails as you provide recipients options to opt-in and become subscribers.
Elastic Email is another service that has a free option, but users are limited to only 100 emails per day. Pricing for Elastic Email begins at $15/month.
4. Constant Contact
Take advantage of extra resources like photos and online seminars by using Constant Contact
Designing is a cinch with constant contact. Image courtesy of Vertical Rail.
Constant Contact is another option that works well for people who are new to sending mass emails. It has built-in features and assets that are designed to put you on the right track before you even send your first set of bulk emails. If you're feeling shaky on the design front, you can consult the vast image library that is included in the plugin.
Beyond its photo library, the service also boasts exceptional customer service. If you have any questions about how to craft and send emails using Constant Contact, you can get a hold of customer support via phone, chat, or email. And, if you’re interested in expanding your bulk email knowledge, you can access an online training library to answer both Constant Contact-specific questions as well as industry-wide tips and tricks. Constant Contact also uniquely holds in-person live seminars around the country that users can attend to gain even more insight on how to use the service to grow their business. Constant Contact offers a 30-day free trial and plans ranging from $20 to $45 per month.
5. HubSpot
Hubspot offers competitive features for small and large businesses alike
Hubspot is one of the most recognizable names for sending bulk emails. Image courtesy of Simple Machines.
Hubspot is already a popular name in the mass email game, meaning that a lot of business owners trust Hubspot to deliver effective mass emails—and for good reason! Hubspot features several automation services that are key for people sending bulk emails.
This service prioritizes creating custom experiences for the audience. For example, you can use Hubspot to create pop-ups, opt-in forms, surveys, and even interactive advertisements. Gamification in email marketing is all the rage, and if you’re looking for a service that can engage your audience with a custom experience, Hubspot is the way to go. Just like with the other services we’ve discussed, Hubspot pulls detailed metrics on how your messages are performing, including A/B testing. Hubspot does offer a free option with limited features, but if you want to upgrade to one of their premium plans you’ll be paying $45/month. They also offer professional plans for larger companies ranging from $800 to $3200/month.
6. SendGrid
Easily automate your email campaigns using SendGrid
Optimize your workflow using SendGrid. Image courtesy of LinkedIn.
If you’re searching for a mass email service that has an ultra-intuitive workflow with exceptional integrations, then you’ll likely find SendGrid is a good option for your business. SendGrid helps you automate every step of your email campaign from importing your address list, to creating your message and pulling key metrics after your messages are sent. When you choose SendGrid, expect to be able to schedule your messages, automatically update your address list, and create email flows that not only make your job easier but also encourage recipient engagement. Just like Constant Contact, SendGrid offers a 30 day free trial and a premium package for $14.95 a month.
7. Mailjet
Next up, we’re discussing another trusted and easy-to-use mass email platform—Mailjet
This is the perfect service for those who struggle with message design. Image courtesy of Martech Zone.
Mailjet is another mass email service that is great for beginners. It boasts a user-friendly email builder feature that encourages users to drag and drop elements to create a professional-looking message—even if you aren’t a graphic designer. The email builder is really what gives Mailjet a competitive edge for small businesses as they don’t have to waste extra time and money on design elements. Another key feature to highlight is personalization. Just like the other services we’ve discussed so far, Mailjet does a great job of automatically segmenting and personalizing messages by pulling from your address list.
Mailjet is also one of the more affordable options out of the mass email services we’ve listed so far, with their premium plan beginning at just $9.65/month.
8. Drip
Drip is a mass email service that offers competitive integration options
If you’re using WordPress frequently, Drip could be the right option for you. Image courtesy of Software Testing Help.
Searching for the right mass email service to integrate with WordPress? Drip may be the right option for you. Integrating WordPress with a mass email plugin helps businesses create new sales leads and build address lists. By using tools like opt-in pages, surveys, and other email marketing tactics, you can use Drip to set your bulk email campaign apart from your competitors. Drip does offer a free plan, but to access all of the integrations and send unlimited messages you’ll have to pay $49/month.
9. SendPulse
With SendPulse, you aren’t limited to just emails, you can send several different types of bulk messages
Interested in SMS and Facebook Messenger? Check out SendPulse! Image courtesy of SendPulse.
If you’re interested in sending more than emails, SendPulse is the way to go. When you use SendPulse, you can automate and send high-quality emails in addition to text messages, push notifications, Facebook Messenger chat, and more!
For new businesses or people who are just entering the world of email marketing, this option is likely a little bit advanced. It can be overwhelming to try to learn about mass emails along with other types of messages, each with its own set of rules. SendPulse is a tool for businesses that are well established with sending bulk emails and are looking to expand their reach through different channels. It also happens to be one of the lower-cost options, with plans starting at $8.85 per month.
10. Mailgun
Mailgun is an excellent tool for comprehensive reporting
Optimize your next campaign strategy with Mailgun. Image courtesy of AcyMailing.
If you want to get up-to-date and detailed reports on your mass emails, then Mailgun is worth exploring as an option for your business’s mass email service. Mailgun can easily pinpoint the weak spots in your latest campaign and show you what needs to be changed. Using A/B testing through Mailgun, you can see the elements of your email that are encouraging engagement and the parts that your next campaign can do without. However, with expanded reporting capabilities comes higher prices. It will cost you $79/month to access premium features in Mailgun.
Choosing the best mass email service for your business can be intimidating—that’s why we created our list! Feel free to research each of these different options on your own to decide which is best for your business and your bulk emailing needs. While no two mass email services are the same, a lot of them share the same features. So, be sure to pay attention to UX and other unique features that set each service apart. And remember GMass and a few other services offer free trials, so we always recommend that you try before you buy. Happy emailing!