Best AWeber Alternatives: Which Email Marketing Tool Should You Actually Use?

AWeber has been around since 1998, and they essentially invented the autoresponder. But "being first" doesn't mean "being best" anymore. The platform feels dated, recent price hikes have frustrated long-time customers, and there are better options for most use cases.

If you're looking to switch-or you're comparing tools before committing-here's an honest breakdown of the best AWeber alternatives based on what you actually need.

Why People Leave AWeber

Before we dive into alternatives, let's be clear about why you might want to leave. AWeber's main issues include:

• Outdated interface: The UI hasn't kept pace with modern competitors. It feels clunky compared to tools like MailerLite or Brevo.
• Limited automation: Basic automation only-no visual workflow builder or complex behavioral triggers on lower plans.
• Price increases: AWeber recently raised prices significantly for grandfathered customers (50-150% increases reported). Their Lite plan starts at $15/month for just 500 subscribers with AWeber branding on your emails.
• Feature restrictions: The Lite plan limits you to 1 email list, 1 custom segment, 3 automations, and 3 landing pages. You need the $30/month Plus plan to get unlimited features.
• Charges for unsubscribes: They charge you based on total contacts, not just active ones (though they recently changed this for unsubscribed contacts).
• Customer support issues: While AWeber offers 24/7 support, many users report slow response times and generic answers that don't solve specific problems.
• Template limitations: Email templates feel outdated compared to modern competitors, and customization options are more limited.

That said, AWeber still has solid deliverability and decent customer support. If those are your priorities and you're happy with basic features, AWeber might still work for you. But most people can do better.

What to Look for in an AWeber Alternative

Before jumping to another platform, consider what matters most for your business:

Pricing model: Do you prefer paying per contact, per email sent, or a flat rate? Each model has advantages depending on your list size and sending frequency.

Automation capabilities: If you're moving away from AWeber partly due to limited automation, make sure your new platform offers visual automation builders, behavioral triggers, and conditional logic.

Ease of use: Some platforms are beginner-friendly (MailerLite, Brevo), while others have steeper learning curves but more power (ActiveCampaign).

Integrations: Check that your new platform connects with your existing tools-WordPress, Shopify, payment processors, webinar software, and CRM systems.

Deliverability: All the features in the world mean nothing if your emails land in spam. Look for platforms with strong sender reputations and authentication support.

Scalability: Consider where you'll be in 6-12 months. Some platforms get expensive quickly as you grow, while others scale more affordably.

The Best AWeber Alternatives Compared

1. MailerLite - Best Budget Option

MailerLite is probably the most direct AWeber replacement for small businesses. It's affordable, easy to use, and doesn't nickel-and-dime you on features.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Up to 500 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month
• Growing Business: Starts at $10/month for 500 subscribers (unlimited emails)
• Advanced: Starts at $20/month for 500 subscribers
• For 1,000 subscribers: Growing Business is $10/month, Advanced is $21/month
• For 5,000 subscribers: Growing Business is $35/month, Advanced is $50/month

What's good:

• Clean, intuitive drag-and-drop editor that makes email design simple
• Marketing automation included even on free plan (though limited)
• Only charges for "unique subscribers used" (contacts you actually email in 30 days)
• Landing pages, website builder, and surveys included
• Auto-resend feature automatically resends campaigns to non-openers
• Email verification built-in to clean your list
• 24/7 email support on all paid plans, live chat on Advanced
• Excellent deliverability rates (consistently above 90%)
• Simple interface makes it easy for beginners
• Can sell digital products and subscriptions directly

What sucks:

• Free plan doesn't include pre-designed templates-you start from scratch or use basic layouts
• Strict approval process (good for deliverability, annoying to set up)
• No built-in CRM or lead scoring on lower plans
• Automation features are more basic than ActiveCampaign or Kit
• Reporting could be more detailed
• Limited A/B testing compared to enterprise tools
• Recent price increases (free plan dropped from 1,000 to 500 subscribers)

Best for: Small businesses, bloggers, and solopreneurs who want solid features without complexity or high costs. Perfect if you're on a tight budget but still need professional email marketing capabilities.

2. Brevo (Formerly Sendinblue) - Best for Unlimited Contacts

Brevo takes a different approach: they charge based on emails sent, not contacts stored. This makes them excellent if you have a large list but don't email frequently. Check out our full Brevo pricing breakdown and Brevo review for more details.

Pricing:

• Free plan: 300 emails/day (9,000/month), unlimited contacts
• Starter: From $9/month for 5,000 emails/month
• Business: From $18/month for 5,000 emails/month (adds automation, A/B testing)
• For 20,000 emails: Starter is $25/month, Business is $65/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing starting at $499/month for high-volume senders

What's good:

• Unlimited contacts on all plans-you only pay for emails sent
• Includes SMS, WhatsApp, and transactional emails in one platform
• Marketing automation and CRM included (even on free plan with limits)
• Good deliverability (consistently high inbox placement rates)
• Heat maps and advanced reporting on Business plan
• Landing page builder included on Business and up
• Multi-channel marketing from a single platform
• Great for infrequent senders with large lists
• API for developers is well-documented
• Facebook Ads integration for retargeting

What sucks:

• Daily sending limit on free plan (300/day) can be frustrating
• Brevo branding on emails costs $12/month extra to remove on Starter plan
• Automation limited to 2,000 contacts on Starter plan
• Credits don't roll over-use them or lose them each month
• Interface can feel cluttered with all the multi-channel options
• Customer support is primarily email-based unless you're on higher plans
• Some users report the platform can be slow to load

Best for: Businesses with large lists who send campaigns sporadically, or those who need multi-channel marketing (email + SMS + WhatsApp). Also great if you need transactional email capabilities for receipts and notifications.

3. Kit (Formerly ConvertKit) - Best for Creators

Kit is built specifically for bloggers, course creators, and content creators. The interface is simple, and they focus heavily on automation and selling digital products.

Pricing:

• Free Newsletter plan: Up to 10,000 subscribers (but only 1 automation)
• Creator: $39/month for 1,000 subscribers, $59 for 3,000, $89 for 5,000
• Creator Pro: $59/month for 1,000 subscribers, $99 for 3,000, $139 for 5,000
• Recent price increases (up to 50% in some tiers) have upset users
• Annual billing saves approximately 16%

What's good:

• Incredibly generous free plan (10,000 subscribers!)
• Built-in commerce features for selling digital products and subscriptions
• Visual automation builder is excellent and creator-focused
• Free migration service from other platforms (for lists over 5,000)
• Strong segmentation and tagging system
• Recommendations network for cross-promotion with other creators
• Creator Profile acts as a landing page hub
• RSS-to-email for automatic blog post newsletters
• Subscriber scoring on Pro plan
• Clean, simple interface designed for non-techies

What sucks:

• Expensive once you're past 1,000 subscribers on paid plans
• Limited email template designs-focused on simple, text-based emails
• No spam or design testing tools
• Recent price hikes have angered long-time users
• Gets very expensive as your list grows (at 10,000 subscribers, you're paying $119-$199/month)
• Basic reporting unless you upgrade to Pro
• No built-in CRM features
• Landing page customization is limited

Best for: Creators, bloggers, and course sellers who prioritize automation and monetization over fancy email designs. If you're building a creator business and need to sell digital products, Kit is purpose-built for you.

4. Mailchimp - Most Feature-Rich (But Expensive)

Mailchimp is the 800-pound gorilla of email marketing. Everyone's heard of it, and it has the most integrations. But it's also gotten expensive and complicated.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month (very limited)
• Essentials: Starts around $13/month for 500 contacts
• Standard: Starts around $20/month for 500 contacts
• Premium: Starts around $350/month for 10,000 contacts
• Pricing scales dramatically with list size

What's good:

• Most integrations of any platform (3,000+ apps including Shopify, WordPress, everything)
• Extensive template library with professional designs
• Built-in social media ad creation and management
• Strong reporting and analytics with revenue tracking
• Advanced segmentation capabilities
• Predictive demographics and insights
• Content optimizer suggests improvements
• Well-known brand that most developers/agencies know how to work with
• Comprehensive knowledge base and tutorials

What sucks:

• Gets expensive fast as your list grows (often 2-3x competitors)
• Charges for unsubscribed and bounced contacts
• Free plan is extremely limited now (500 contacts max, removed automation)
• Interface has become bloated and confusing with all the features
• Customer support is mediocre unless you're on premium
• Email editor can be glitchy
• Frequent price increases over recent years
• Overwhelming for beginners
• Some advanced features require Premium plan ($350+/month)

Best for: Businesses that need extensive integrations and don't mind paying premium prices. Good for agencies managing multiple clients or ecommerce businesses deeply integrated into the Mailchimp ecosystem.

5. Constant Contact - Best for Event Marketing

Constant Contact is another old-school platform like AWeber, but it's stayed more competitive. Their unique angle is event marketing features.

Pricing:

• Lite: $12/month for 500 contacts (formerly starts at this price)
• Standard: $35/month for 500 contacts
• Premium: $80/month for 500 contacts
• 30-day free trial (no free plan)
• Nonprofit discounts available

What's good:

• Built-in event marketing (tickets, RSVPs, payment processing)
• Social media scheduling and posting included
• AI copy generator and subject line generator
• Good for beginners-very user-friendly interface
• Excellent customer support (phone, chat, email)
• Strong template library with industry-specific designs
• Contact management includes CRM features
• Local workshops and training events
• Good deliverability rates
• Website builder included on higher plans

What sucks:

• Expensive for what you get compared to competitors
• Limited automation compared to other platforms at this price point
• No free plan (just 30-day trial)
• A/B testing only for subject lines (not full email content)
• Reporting is basic unless you're on Premium
• Gets pricey as list grows
• Some features feel dated
• Less flexibility in email design than competitors

Best for: Organizations that run events and need integrated ticketing/registration with their email marketing. Also good for local businesses that want hands-on support and training.

6. ActiveCampaign - Best for Advanced Automation

If automation is your priority, ActiveCampaign is hard to beat. It's essentially a marketing automation platform with email built in, not the other way around.

Pricing:

• Starter: $15/month for 1,000 contacts (up to $69 for 10,000)
• Plus: $49/month for 1,000 contacts (up to $239 for 10,000)
• Pro: $79/month for 1,000 contacts (up to $389 for 10,000)
• Enterprise: $145/month for 1,000 contacts (custom pricing for larger lists)
• Annual billing saves 20%
• Note: Recent restructuring increased prices 30-40% for many users

What's good:

• Most powerful automation builder available (visual, with split paths and conditional logic)
• Built-in CRM with sales pipeline management
• Lead scoring and predictive sending
• Site tracking and behavioral triggers
• Advanced segmentation based on almost any criteria
• SMS marketing add-on available
• Machine learning for send time optimization
• Attribution and conversion tracking
• Split testing within automations
• Conversations inbox for unified messaging
• Deep integrations with 900+ apps

What sucks:

• No free plan (only 14-day trial)
• Steeper learning curve than simpler platforms
• Overkill for simple newsletter needs
• Price jumps significantly as list grows
• Recent price increases upset existing customers
• Send limits (10x your contacts per month) can be restrictive
• Some features require add-ons (CRM, custom reporting)
• Interface can feel overwhelming at first
• Takes time to set up properly

Best for: Businesses that need sophisticated marketing automation and don't mind a learning curve. Perfect for B2B companies, agencies, and ecommerce businesses running complex customer journeys.

7. Klaviyo - Best for Ecommerce

Klaviyo is built specifically for ecommerce businesses, particularly Shopify and WooCommerce stores. It's expensive but powerful for online sellers.

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 250 contacts, 500 email sends
• Email plan starts around $20/month for 500 contacts
• For 1,000 contacts: approximately $30-35/month
• For 10,000 contacts: approximately $150-200/month
• Scales significantly with list size
• SMS is billed separately per message sent

What's good:

• Deep ecommerce integrations (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento)
• Product recommendations based on purchase history and browsing
• Abandoned cart automations pre-built and optimized
• Customer segmentation based on buying behavior and CLV
• Built-in SMS marketing with shared customer profiles
• Revenue attribution shows exactly what each campaign earned
• Predictive analytics for customer lifetime value
• Dynamic product blocks in emails
• Back-in-stock and price-drop notifications
• Post-purchase flows to increase repeat purchases
• Excellent reporting focused on revenue

What sucks:

• Expensive-designed for stores making significant revenue
• Overkill if you're not doing ecommerce
• Can be complex to set up properly
• Learning curve is steep if you're new to email marketing
• SMS costs add up quickly
• Support can be slow unless you're on a high-tier plan
• Pricing can feel unpredictable as it scales
• Email design capabilities are more basic than design-focused platforms

Best for: Online stores doing significant revenue (typically $50K+ annually) who need behavior-based marketing automation and want to maximize customer lifetime value.

8. GetResponse - All-in-One Marketing Platform

GetResponse has evolved into a comprehensive marketing platform with webinar capabilities, making it unique among email marketing tools.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Up to 500 contacts with limited features
• Email Marketing: From $19/month for 1,000 contacts
• Marketing Automation: From $59/month for 1,000 contacts
• Ecommerce Marketing: From $119/month for 1,000 contacts
• 18% discount for annual billing

What's good:

• Webinar hosting built-in (unique feature)
• Conversion funnels with templates
• Landing pages and website builder
• Automation visual builder
• Solid deliverability rates
• 24/7 live chat support
• Facebook Ads integration
• Ecommerce tools for abandoned cart recovery
• Good template library
• Popup and form builder

What sucks:

• Automation only available on mid-tier and up ($59+/month)
• Interface feels dated compared to newer competitors
• Can get expensive as features add up
• Some users report declining deliverability
• Learning curve for webinar features
• Advanced features are scattered across plans

Best for: Course creators and businesses that run webinars regularly and want everything in one platform. Good for digital marketers who need conversion funnels.

9. Moosend - Budget-Friendly with Good Automation

Moosend is an underrated platform offering solid features at competitive prices, especially for small to medium businesses.

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 1,000 subscribers (unlimited emails)
• Pro: From $9/month for 500 subscribers, $16/month for 2,000 subscribers
• Enterprise: Custom pricing with dedicated support
• Very affordable scaling compared to competitors

What's good:

• Generous free plan with full features
• Visual automation builder included
• Landing pages and forms
• Ecommerce features and product recommendations
• AI-powered subject line optimization
• Real-time reporting
• Website tracking
• SMTP server included
• Very affordable pricing
• No sending limits on paid plans

What sucks:

• Less well-known means fewer third-party integrations
• Template library is smaller than major competitors
• Support can be slower than premium platforms
• Some advanced features missing
• Smaller user community for troubleshooting

Best for: Budget-conscious businesses that want solid automation without breaking the bank. Great alternative if you're outgrowing MailerLite but can't afford ActiveCampaign.

10. Sender - Generous Free Plan

Sender offers one of the most generous free plans available, making it perfect for startups and small businesses.

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 2,500 subscribers, 15,000 emails/month
• Standard: From $15/month for 2,500 subscribers
• Professional: From $29/month for 2,500 subscribers
• Very competitive pricing as you scale

What's good:

• Extremely generous free plan
• Simple, clean interface
• Automation workflows included on free plan
• SMS marketing available
• Ecommerce integrations
• Push notifications
• Good deliverability
• Affordable pricing structure

What sucks:

• Limited advanced features
• Smaller template library
• Fewer integrations than major platforms
• Support is email-only on lower plans
• Less robust reporting

Best for: Startups and small businesses that need a lot of contacts on a free plan. Great for testing email marketing before committing to paid tools.

11. HubSpot - Best for Growing Companies

HubSpot offers a complete marketing, sales, and service platform, with email marketing as one component of a larger ecosystem.

Pricing:

• Free plan: Basic email marketing with HubSpot branding
• Marketing Hub Starter: From $20/month for 1,000 contacts
• Marketing Hub Professional: From $890/month (includes advanced features)
• Marketing Hub Enterprise: From $3,600/month

What's good:

• Comprehensive CRM included free
• All-in-one platform (marketing, sales, service)
• Excellent reporting and analytics
• Advanced automation and workflows
• Smart content for personalization
• Huge integration marketplace
• Outstanding educational resources
• Scales with your business

What sucks:

• Very expensive at scale (Professional plan is $890+/month)
• Steep price jump from Starter to Professional
• Can be overwhelming for small businesses
• Some essential features require Professional tier
• Email-specific features less advanced than dedicated email platforms

Best for: Growing B2B companies that need a complete marketing, sales, and CRM platform and have the budget for it. Best if you want everything unified in one system.

12. Omnisend - Ecommerce-Focused Alternative

Omnisend specializes in ecommerce email and SMS marketing with powerful automation specifically designed for online stores.

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 250 contacts, 500 emails/month
• Standard: From $16/month for 500 contacts
• Pro: From $59/month for 500 contacts
• SMS billed separately

What's good:

• Ecommerce-specific features and templates
• Pre-built automation for common ecommerce flows
• SMS and email in unified campaigns
• Product picker for emails
• Advanced segmentation for shoppers
• Revenue reporting
• Push notifications included
• Cart recovery automation

What sucks:

• Limited if not running ecommerce
• SMS costs can add up
• Smaller than Klaviyo in terms of advanced features
• Interface can be cluttered

Best for: Small to medium ecommerce businesses that want ecommerce-focused features without Klaviyo's pricing. Good for Shopify stores under $500K annual revenue.

13. EmailOctopus - Simple and Affordable

EmailOctopus uses Amazon SES for sending, passing the savings to customers with rock-bottom pricing.

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails/month
• Pro: From $9/month for 500 contacts, $16/month for 5,000 contacts
• One of the most affordable options available

What's good:

• Extremely affordable
• Simple, no-frills interface
• Good for basic newsletters
• Landing pages included
• Automation workflows
• Good deliverability via Amazon SES
• API access

What sucks:

• Very basic features
• Limited automation capabilities
• Small template library
• Minimal support
• No CRM or advanced segmentation

Best for: Newsletter senders who want simple, affordable email delivery without fancy features. Perfect for bloggers and content creators on a tight budget.

14. Benchmark Email - User-Friendly Option

Benchmark Email focuses on ease of use with a clean interface and responsive support.

Pricing:

• Free: Up to 500 contacts, 3,500 emails/month
• Pro: From $15/month for 500 contacts
• Affordable scaling with flat pricing tiers

What's good:

• Very beginner-friendly
• Good template library
• Automation included
• A/B testing
• Landing pages
• Surveys and polls
• Live chat support

What sucks:

• Limited advanced features
• Fewer integrations
• Basic reporting
• Automation less sophisticated than competitors

Best for: Beginners who want an easy-to-use platform with responsive support without overwhelming features.

15. Drip - Advanced Ecommerce Marketing

Drip is an ecommerce CRM and email marketing automation platform designed for sophisticated online retailers.

Pricing:

• No free plan
• Starts at $39/month for 2,500 contacts
• Scales to $1,899/month for 170,000 contacts
• 14-day free trial

What's good:

• Powerful ecommerce automation
• Visual workflow builder
• Customer behavior tracking
• Revenue attribution
• SMS marketing integrated
• Facebook Custom Audiences
• Excellent for product recommendations
• Deep Shopify integration

What sucks:

• Expensive (starts at $39/month)
• No free plan
• Overkill for non-ecommerce
• Learning curve
• Limited email templates

Best for: Sophisticated ecommerce businesses that need advanced customer journey mapping and have the budget for premium tools. Alternative to Klaviyo.

Quick Comparison Table

Which AWeber Alternative Should You Choose?

Here's my take based on specific situations:

Tightest budget? Go with MailerLite or EmailOctopus. Both offer functional free plans, and paid plans are very reasonable. MailerLite has better features, while EmailOctopus is cheaper.

Big list but don't email often? Brevo makes the most sense. Unlimited contacts and pay-per-email pricing works in your favor. Perfect if you have 10,000+ contacts but only send 1-2 campaigns monthly.

Creator, blogger, or course seller? Kit (formerly ConvertKit) was literally built for you. The free plan is generous (10,000 subscribers!), and monetization features are built-in. Despite recent price increases, it's still the best for creators.

Running an online store? Skip the general-purpose tools and go straight to Klaviyo or Omnisend. The ecommerce features will pay for themselves. Choose Klaviyo if you're doing $50K+/year, Omnisend for smaller stores.

Need serious automation? ActiveCampaign is the power tool. Higher learning curve, but nothing else comes close for complex workflows. Worth it if you're running sophisticated customer journeys.

Want everything in one place? HubSpot offers marketing, sales, and service in one platform. Expensive but comprehensive. Best for growing B2B companies that need unified systems.

Just starting out? Sender or Benchmark Email offer generous free plans with good support. Both are beginner-friendly without overwhelming features.

Running webinars? GetResponse includes webinar hosting, making it unique. Good for course creators and digital marketers who present regularly.

Comfortable with AWeber but want something similar? Constant Contact will feel familiar. Similar interface philosophy but with better event features and more modern templates.

Detailed Feature Comparison

Email Editor and Templates

The email editor is where you'll spend most of your time, so it needs to be intuitive and powerful.

Best editors: MailerLite and Mailchimp have the most intuitive drag-and-drop editors with the best balance of simplicity and flexibility. HubSpot also has an excellent editor if you're on their platform.

Best templates: Mailchimp wins for quantity (100+ templates), but MailerLite and Constant Contact have better quality modern designs. Kit intentionally keeps templates minimal for creator-focused plain-text style emails.

Most flexible: ActiveCampaign and HubSpot offer the most customization options, including conditional content that changes based on subscriber data.

Automation Capabilities

Automation is where modern email marketing really shines, letting you set up sequences that run on autopilot.

Most powerful: ActiveCampaign and Drip offer the most sophisticated automation with visual builders, split paths, and complex conditional logic. Perfect for multi-step customer journeys.

Best for ecommerce: Klaviyo and Omnisend have pre-built ecommerce automations (abandoned cart, browse abandonment, post-purchase) that you can set up in minutes.

Best value: Moosend includes solid automation even on free/cheap plans, offering excellent value. MailerLite also includes basic automation on all plans.

Simplest: Kit makes automation approachable for creators with a clean visual builder focused on subscriber actions rather than complex behaviors.

Deliverability and Sender Reputation

The best email means nothing if it lands in spam. Deliverability is crucial but often overlooked.

Best deliverability: AWeber, Mailchimp, and Brevo consistently have high inbox placement rates (90%+). EmailOctopus uses Amazon SES which also has excellent delivery.

Most tools: ActiveCampaign and HubSpot offer the most deliverability tools including spam testing, domain authentication assistance, and dedicated IP options.

Be careful: Some smaller platforms (Sender, Benchmark) can have more variable deliverability depending on shared IP reputation. Always set up proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).

Integration Ecosystem

Your email platform needs to connect with your other tools seamlessly.

Most integrations: Mailchimp (3,000+), HubSpot (1,500+), and ActiveCampaign (900+) have the largest integration marketplaces. If you need it, they probably connect to it.

Best native integrations: Klaviyo has the deepest ecommerce integrations, especially with Shopify. HubSpot integrates seamlessly across its entire ecosystem.

API access: Most platforms offer API access, but ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, and Drip have the best-documented and most powerful APIs for custom integrations.

Zapier/Make: All major platforms connect via Zapier or Make.com, but some lesser-known tools (Moosend, Sender) have fewer direct integrations, making automation platforms essential.

Reporting and Analytics

Understanding what's working is crucial for improving results over time.

Most comprehensive: HubSpot and ActiveCampaign offer the most detailed reporting including attribution, revenue tracking, and customer journey analytics.

Best for ecommerce: Klaviyo and Drip show exactly how much revenue each campaign and automation generated, with customer lifetime value tracking.

Basic but sufficient: MailerLite, Brevo, and Kit provide standard metrics (opens, clicks, unsubscribes) that cover most needs for small businesses.

Visual reporting: Mailchimp has some of the most visually appealing reports, making it easy to share results with stakeholders who aren't email marketers.

Customer Support

When things break or you're stuck, good support is invaluable.

Best support: Constant Contact offers phone support on all plans with knowledgeable staff. ActiveCampaign and HubSpot also have excellent support, especially on higher tiers.

24/7 availability: MailerLite (paid plans), AWeber, and Brevo offer round-the-clock email support, with some offering live chat.

Self-service: HubSpot has the best knowledge base and educational resources. ActiveCampaign and Kit also have extensive documentation and tutorials.

Community: Kit and HubSpot have the strongest user communities where you can get peer help and ideas.

Weakest support: Budget platforms like EmailOctopus and Sender typically offer only email support with slower response times.

Migration Guide: Moving from AWeber

Switching email platforms feels daunting, but it's more straightforward than you think. Here's how to do it properly:

Step 1: Choose Your New Platform

Use the guidance above to select the platform that best fits your needs. Sign up for a free trial or free plan to test it before committing.

Step 2: Export Your Data from AWeber

Before canceling AWeber, export everything:

• Subscriber lists: Go to your list, click "Manage Subscribers," then "Download my entire list." Export as CSV.
• Custom fields: Make sure your export includes all custom fields you've created.
• Tags and segments: Note how your list is organized-you'll need to recreate this structure.
• Email templates: Save copies of your best-performing email templates (you'll likely need to rebuild them).
• Automation workflows: Screenshot or document your automation sequences so you can recreate them.
• Performance data: Export reports for your best campaigns for reference.

Step 3: Prepare Your Data

Clean your exported list before importing:

• Remove obviously invalid emails ([email protected], etc.)
• Remove duplicates
• Update the file format if needed for your new platform
• Ensure required fields are properly mapped

Step 4: Set Up Your New Platform

Before importing contacts:

• Domain authentication: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your sending domain. This is crucial for deliverability.
• From address: Use the same email address you used in AWeber to maintain subscriber recognition.
• Branding: Add your logo and customize colors to match your brand.
• Unsubscribe page: Ensure your unsubscribe and preferences pages are properly configured.

Step 5: Import Your Contacts

Most platforms make importing straightforward:

• Upload your CSV file
• Map fields from your file to the platform's fields
• Choose to add tags if you're segmenting during import
• Wait for validation (some platforms verify emails, which can take time)

Important: Many platforms (especially MailerLite and Brevo) have strict verification processes. They may require proof that your subscribers opted in. Have welcome emails or signup forms ready to show.

Step 6: Recreate Essential Automations

Don't try to recreate everything at once. Start with:

• Welcome sequence for new subscribers
• Your most important nurture sequences
• Any ecommerce automations (abandoned cart, etc.)
• Transactional emails if applicable

You can recreate other automations over time as needed.

Step 7: Warm Up Your Sending

Don't immediately blast your entire list. Warm up your sending reputation:

• Day 1-3: Send to your most engaged subscribers (recent openers/clickers)
• Day 4-7: Expand to moderately engaged subscribers
• Week 2+: Gradually include less engaged segments
• Monitor closely: Watch bounce rates, complaints, and deliverability

This gradual approach helps establish a good sender reputation with your new platform.

Step 8: Send a "We've Moved" Campaign

Let subscribers know about the change:

• Explain you've switched platforms for better features
• Remind them why they subscribed
• Provide an easy way to update preferences or unsubscribe
• Reassure them about email frequency and content

Step 9: Monitor Performance

Watch your metrics closely for the first few weeks:

• Open rates (should be similar to AWeber)
• Click rates
• Bounce rates (should be low if list is clean)
• Spam complaints (should be minimal)
• Unsubscribe rates (expect a small increase initially)

If deliverability is significantly worse, you may have a setup issue-contact support immediately.

Step 10: Cancel AWeber

Once you're confident in your new platform (give it at least 2-4 weeks):

• Export any final data you might need
• Screenshot any reports you want to keep
• Cancel your AWeber subscription
• Keep your export files backed up

Free Migration Services

Some platforms will migrate you for free:

• Kit (ConvertKit): Free migration for lists over 5,000 subscribers
• ActiveCampaign: Free migration assistance with annual plans
• HubSpot: Free migration included
• Drip: White-glove migration for qualified accounts

Contact the platform's sales team to arrange migration assistance.

Common Mistakes When Switching Platforms

Avoid these pitfalls when leaving AWeber:

Mistake 1: Not cleaning your list first. Importing bounced and unengaged contacts hurts your new sender reputation. Clean before importing.

Mistake 2: Blasting your entire list immediately. Warm up your sending gradually to establish good reputation with your new ESP.

Mistake 3: Changing too much at once. Keep your from name, subject line style, and frequency consistent during the transition. Don't change everything simultaneously.

Mistake 4: Not testing automations. Test every automation thoroughly with test contacts before activating for real subscribers.

Mistake 5: Ignoring deliverability setup. Properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Skip this and you'll land in spam.

Mistake 6: Canceling AWeber too soon. Keep both platforms running for at least 2-4 weeks during transition to ensure smooth handoff.

Mistake 7: Not documenting your setup. Document your automations, segments, and workflows in AWeber before canceling.

Mistake 8: Choosing based only on price. The cheapest option isn't always the best. Consider features, support, and scalability.

Cost Comparison: Long-Term Savings

Let's look at real cost comparisons as your list grows. Here's what you'd pay monthly for different list sizes:

For 1,000 Subscribers

• AWeber Lite: $15/month
• MailerLite Growing: $10/month
• Brevo Starter: $9/month (assuming 20K emails)
• Kit Creator: $39/month
• Mailchimp Essentials: $13/month
• ActiveCampaign Starter: $15/month
• Moosend Pro: $9/month

Winner for 1K: Moosend and Brevo at $9/month

For 5,000 Subscribers

• AWeber Lite: $50/month
• MailerLite Growing: $35/month
• Brevo Business: $18/month (assuming 20K emails)
• Kit Creator: $89/month
• Mailchimp Standard: $100/month
• ActiveCampaign Plus: $149/month
• Klaviyo: $100/month

Winner for 5K: Brevo at $18/month (if you send infrequently), MailerLite at $35/month (if you send regularly)

For 10,000 Subscribers

• AWeber Plus: $100/month
• MailerLite Growing: $50/month
• Brevo Business: $65/month (assuming 40K emails)
• Kit Creator: $119/month
• Mailchimp Standard: $150/month
• ActiveCampaign Plus: $239/month
• Klaviyo: $150-200/month

Winner for 10K: MailerLite at $50/month

Annual Savings

Switching from AWeber Lite to MailerLite for 5,000 subscribers saves you $180/year. Over three years, that's $540-enough to invest in other marketing tools or hire a designer for better email templates.

Industry-Specific Recommendations

For Bloggers and Content Creators

Best choice: Kit (ConvertKit) or MailerLite

Kit is purpose-built for creators with features for selling digital products, but it's expensive. MailerLite offers similar functionality at half the price. Both integrate well with WordPress and have simple interfaces perfect for solopreneurs.

For Ecommerce Stores

Best choice: Klaviyo (larger stores) or Omnisend (smaller stores)

Klaviyo is the gold standard if you can afford it. Omnisend provides similar features at lower price points for stores under $500K annual revenue. Both have pre-built ecommerce automations and revenue tracking.

For SaaS Companies

Best choice: ActiveCampaign or HubSpot

SaaS businesses need sophisticated automation for onboarding, engagement, and expansion. ActiveCampaign provides powerful automation at reasonable prices. HubSpot offers the complete package if you need CRM and marketing in one place.

For Agencies Managing Multiple Clients

Best choice: Mailchimp or HubSpot

Both offer agency/partner programs with client management features. Mailchimp is more widely known (easier client buy-in), while HubSpot provides more comprehensive tools.

For Nonprofits

Best choice: Constant Contact or Mailchimp

Both offer nonprofit discounts (up to 25% off). Constant Contact's event features are perfect for fundraisers and volunteer coordination. Mailchimp's brand recognition helps with board approval.

For Local Businesses

Best choice: Constant Contact or Mailchimp

Both offer local workshops and training. Constant Contact has better phone support if you prefer human help. Templates for local businesses (restaurants, gyms, salons) are readily available.

For B2B Service Businesses

Best choice: ActiveCampaign or HubSpot

Long sales cycles need sophisticated lead scoring and nurturing. ActiveCampaign provides this affordably. HubSpot adds sales enablement tools if you need a complete sales and marketing platform.

Advanced Features to Consider

Marketing Automation vs. Email Automation

There's a difference between simple email automation (triggered sequences) and full marketing automation (multi-channel, behavior-based orchestration).

Email automation: MailerLite, Brevo, Kit-good for welcome sequences, abandoned carts, and basic nurturing.

Marketing automation: ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, Drip-for complex multi-step journeys with scoring, segmentation, and cross-channel coordination.

Most businesses start with email automation and graduate to marketing automation as they scale.

CRM Integration

Some platforms include CRM features, others integrate with external CRMs:

Built-in CRM: ActiveCampaign, HubSpot, Brevo-manage contacts, deals, and sales pipelines within the email platform.

Integrates with CRM: Most platforms connect with Salesforce, Pipedrive, and other popular CRMs via native integration or Zapier.

Consider whether you need CRM built-in or prefer best-of-breed specialized tools connected via integration.

SMS and Multi-Channel Marketing

Email-only is increasingly insufficient. Multi-channel engagement drives better results:

Email + SMS: Brevo, Omnisend, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign-send coordinated campaigns across channels.

Email + Push: Sender, Omnisend-re-engage via browser or mobile push notifications.

Email + WhatsApp: Brevo-leverage WhatsApp for personalized messaging.

Multi-channel is especially important for ecommerce and high-engagement businesses.

AI and Predictive Features

Artificial intelligence is increasingly important in email marketing:

Subject line generation: Most platforms now offer AI subject line suggestions (Constant Contact, GetResponse, MailerLite).

Send time optimization: ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp use AI to send at optimal times for each subscriber.

Content generation: Some platforms (HubSpot, Constant Contact) include AI writing assistants for email body copy.

Predictive analytics: Klaviyo and ActiveCampaign predict customer lifetime value and churn risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my AWeber email templates when I switch?

Not directly. You'll need to recreate templates in your new platform. However, you can save your AWeber emails as HTML and use that as a starting point. Most platforms can import HTML templates with some adjustment needed.

Will my email deliverability suffer when switching?

Possibly, but only temporarily. If you properly set up domain authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and warm up your sending gradually, deliverability should match or exceed AWeber's rates. Many users report improved deliverability after switching to platforms like MailerLite or Brevo.

How long does migration take?

DIY migration: 1-3 days for basic setup, 1-2 weeks to fully recreate automations and get comfortable.

With migration service: Often completed in 1-2 weeks with platform team doing the heavy lifting.

Plan for at least 2-4 weeks of parallel running (both platforms active) before fully cutting over.

What happens to my subscriber history?

Your subscribers won't remember that you switched platforms-it's invisible to them. However, you'll lose historical engagement data (past open and click history) stored in AWeber. Export important reports before canceling.

Do I need to get permission from subscribers again?

No. If subscribers opted into your list, that permission transfers with them. However, be prepared to prove opt-in if your new platform asks during verification (especially MailerLite and Brevo have strict policies).

Can I switch back to AWeber if I don't like the new platform?

Yes, you can always switch back, though you'll need to go through the migration process again. This is why testing the new platform thoroughly before canceling AWeber is wise. Keep AWeber active for 30 days during your trial of the alternative.

Will switching affect my sender reputation?

Your sender reputation is tied to your domain and IP addresses, not the ESP. As long as you maintain good sending practices and properly authenticate your domain, your reputation should transfer. Warming up sending on the new platform helps establish reputation on their IPs.

Which platform is closest to AWeber in terms of features?

Constant Contact is probably most similar in philosophy and feature set-mature platform, good support, event marketing features. MailerLite is similar but modernized with a cleaner interface. Both serve similar markets to AWeber.

Making Your Final Decision

Choosing an email marketing platform is a significant decision that affects your business for months or years. Don't rush it.

Here's a simple decision framework:

1. List your must-have features. What do you absolutely need? Automation? Ecommerce integration? SMS? CRM?

2. Set your budget. What can you afford now, and where will pricing be in 6-12 months as you grow?

3. Narrow to 2-3 options. Based on features and budget, shortlist your top contenders.

4. Test each platform. Sign up for free trials or free plans. Build a few emails, set up a simple automation, import a small segment of your list.

5. Check integrations. Verify that your essential tools (website, CRM, ecommerce) connect properly.

6. Evaluate support. Contact support with a question to gauge responsiveness and helpfulness.

7. Make your choice. Select the platform that best balances features, price, usability, and support for your needs.

8. Plan your migration. Follow the migration guide above to switch smoothly without disrupting your subscribers.

Email marketing is one of those tools where switching costs are real but not insurmountable. If AWeber isn't working for you-whether it's the price increases, limited features, or clunky interface-there's no reason to stay loyal. The alternatives have caught up and, in many cases, passed AWeber by.

For more on email marketing tools, check out our guide to the best email marketing software or dive into specific comparisons in our email marketing for small business guide.

Take Action Today

The best time to evaluate your email marketing platform is before you're frustrated enough to make a rash decision. Even if you're not ready to switch today, understanding your options helps you negotiate better terms with AWeber or positions you to move quickly when the time is right.

Start with these action steps:

• Export your AWeber list and automations today (even if you're not switching yet-good to have backups)
• Sign up for 2-3 free trials of platforms that match your needs
• Test them with a real email campaign and simple automation
• Calculate your costs 6 and 12 months from now based on expected growth
• Make a decision and commit to a migration timeline if switching

Remember: every month you overpay or underutilize your email platform is money and opportunities lost. The best AWeber alternative for you is out there-and it might just transform your email marketing results.