Mailchimp is not everyone’s jam. And while I love it, I know there are things about it that just don’t float everyone’s boat.
I want to quickly introduce you to two great alternatives to Mailchimp. I am not affiliated in any way with the below companies.
Here were my criteria:
- have free services, not just a free trial period
- be able to send out a welcome email (for opt-in purposes)
- create sign up forms that could either be hosted on their site or embedded on your own
1. Benchmark
I must admit, the more I use this system, the more I fall in love with it. This is a serious contender for the “better than Mailchimp” category for me. It’s powerful
Free: 2,000 subscribers and 14,000 emails sent per month.
Free access to autoresponders makes this a very attractive alternative to Mailchimp for those with small lists.
Find out more at www.benchmarkemail.com
2. Vertical Response
The Vertical Response dashboard is more intuitive and less overwhelming than either Mailchimp or Benchmark. Bright coloured buttons. A design that resembles an email client, this is sure to be a hit if you found Mailchimp just way too overwhelming.
It’s free for up to 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 emails sent per month.
You can send a welcome email with the free version of Vertical Response, for such things as an opt-in, but not a welcome series. But this feature is only for a limited time on the free plan, so if you want to keep sending out your opt-in, you will probably need to go up to a paid plan.
Find out more at www.verticalresponse.com
There we go. Because both have free plans, you could give them a whirl before deciding which was for you.