Linda ParkLinda Park

I've spent the last three months running campaigns through AWeber, and honestly? I had higher expectations. Everyone talks about how they pioneered autoresponders, but when you're actually inside the platform, you realize pioneering something doesn't mean you kept innovating.

Here's what actually happened: I signed up thinking I'd get this battle-tested tool. The interface was easier to learn than I expected, and when I got stuck, support responded fast. That part lived up to the hype. But then I tried building anything beyond basic email sequences and kept hitting walls. The automation builder feels like it's stuck in . And after my trial ended, the pricing made me wince.

Bottom line: AWeber works fine if you're sending newsletters and simple follow-ups. But I started finding workarounds for things that should just work, which tells you everything. For what they charge now, there are platforms that do more without making you improvise.

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AWeber Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay

AWeber uses a tiered pricing structure based on subscriber count. Here's what each plan costs:

Prices scale up as your list grows. Here's the catch: AWeber charges based on total subscribers, and until recently, that included unsubscribed contacts sitting in your account. You had to manually delete them to avoid overage charges. They've since changed this policy, but it burned a lot of users.

The bigger issue: AWeber raised prices significantly in late , with some grandfathered customers seeing 50-150% increases. This forced many long-time users to migrate to cheaper alternatives.

How AWeber Pricing Compares

At 10,000 subscribers, you're looking at approximately $100-135/month depending on your plan. Compare that to MailerLite at $73/month or Brevo's unlimited contacts model where you pay by emails sent rather than subscribers. The value proposition gets weaker as your list grows.

For detailed pricing breakdowns, check out our AWeber pricing guide and AWeber cost analysis.

Hidden Costs and Billing Quirks

AWeber automatically upgrades you to the next tier when you exceed your subscriber or sending limits. While this prevents service interruption, it can lead to unexpected charges. Downgrades aren't automatic - you need to contact customer support to adjust your billing tier if your subscriber count decreases.

I had unsubscribes still counting toward my total for almost two billing cycles before I caught it. I had to go in manually, remove them from the list entirely, and then the count adjusted. It wasn't hard but I shouldn't have had to know to do that.

The platform also charges transaction fees on ecommerce sales: 1.0% on the Lite plan and 0.6% on Plus and Unlimited plans. If you're selling products directly through AWeber, these fees add up quickly.

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What AWeber Gets Right

I'll be honest - when I first logged into AWeber, I expected the kind of cluttered dashboard you get with most email platforms. Instead, I got something that actually made sense. The drag-and-drop builder works the way you'd expect it to work. You click a text block, it drops in. You want an image, you drag it over. No hunting through menus or watching tutorial videos just to send a basic email.

What surprised me was how fast I could go from blank canvas to actual email. Their onboarding walks you through list creation and your first campaign without being annoying about it. I've used ActiveCampaign and HubSpot before, and those make you feel like you need a certification just to find the automation builder. AWeber doesn't do that.

The template situation is interesting. They advertise 600+ templates, but when you actually browse them, you realize they're counting every color variation as a separate template. The real number of unique designs is closer to 170. Still plenty to work with, and they're organized by category and industry so you're not scrolling forever. The landing page templates (about 53 of them) are legitimately good - way better than the email templates, actually. Modern designs that don't scream "I used a template."

Here's the problem with the templates though: a lot of them look like they were designed in . They're not bad, just... safe. Corporate. If you want something with personality, you'll hit the limits of the customization pretty quick. I tried making a template feel more editorial and ran into restrictions on spacing and layout that made me give up and start from scratch.

The Smart Designer feature is one of those things that sounds gimmicky until you use it. You paste in your website URL and it pulls your logo, brand colors, fonts, and some images to generate a branded template automatically. I tested it on three different websites and it worked surprisingly well each time. Not perfect - it pulled some weird stock photos from one site - but good enough that a small business without a designer could actually use it.

AWeber was apparently the first platform to bake Canva directly into the email editor, and I actually use this. You click the Canva button, design a header or graphic, and it drops straight into your email. No downloading files, no opening another tab. You don't even need a Canva account, though having one lets you access your brand kit. For someone who can barely design anything, this saves me from creating ugly text-only emails.

Customer support is where AWeber beats almost everyone. They have 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support on every plan, including free. I tested the chat at 11pm on a Tuesday and got a real person in under two minutes. Not a bot, not someone reading from a script - someone who actually knew the platform. The team is US-based in Pennsylvania, and you can tell they train their people properly.

The phone support is what really stands out. Mailchimp doesn't offer it. MailerLite doesn't offer it. Brevo restricts it to enterprise plans. AWeber just gives you a number you can call. I've seen multiple people in reviews say they stayed with AWeber specifically because of support, even when they were frustrated with other parts of the platform. That tells you something.

For ecommerce, AWeber has basic Stripe and PayPal integration. You can sell digital products, take donations, or set up subscriptions through landing pages. It handles 100+ currencies. I tested selling a digital download and the whole thing worked fine - payment processed, buyer got added to the right list, confirmation email sent. It's not Shopify or Klaviyo, but if you're selling a course or ebook, it does the job.

You can set up abandoned cart emails and post-purchase sequences, but it's all manual. You're building the automation yourself, not choosing from pre-built templates. If you're coming from a dedicated ecommerce platform, this will feel basic. For everyone else, it's enough.

The landing page builder gets unlimited pages on the Plus plan (3 on Lite, 1 on Free). The builder itself is solid - same drag-and-drop interface as the email editor, with templates that actually focus on conversion. I built a lead magnet page in maybe 10 minutes. The built-in analytics show views, conversion rate, and where subscribers came from. You can add a custom domain but you'll need to mess with DNS settings, which is standard but annoying.

AWeber added an AI writing assistant recently, and it's fine. Not amazing, not useless. You give it a prompt like "promotional email for summer sale" and it generates subject lines and body copy. I used it mostly for subject line variations when I was A/B testing and couldn't think of a third option. It's not going to replace a real copywriter, but it'll get you unstuck when you're staring at a blank screen. Better than nothing, not as good as Claude or ChatGPT if you're already using those.

What AWeber Gets Wrong

Look, I'm just going to say it: AWeber's automation builder made me want to throw my laptop out the window. I came from ActiveCampaign, so maybe I was spoiled, but trying to build a simple "if they click this link, send them down path A, otherwise send them down path B" workflow was genuinely frustrating.

Derek spent twenty minutes this morning explaining why the Mandalorian is better than anything from the original trilogy and I just nodded. Gerald does the same thing when he gets going about something - you just let it run its course.

The visual automation builder exists now, which is better than what they had before. You can drag and drop elements and create basic sequences. I built a welcome series and an abandoned cart flow without too much pain. But the moment I tried to add real conditional logic - the kind where subscriber behavior actually determines what happens next - I kept hitting walls.

Here's a concrete example that drove me nuts: I wanted to send different follow-up emails based on which link someone clicked in my initial email. In ActiveCampaign or even MailerLite, this takes maybe five minutes. In AWeber, I ended up creating separate automations and using tags as a workaround, which meant managing multiple workflows when it should have been one. It worked, but it felt like I was fighting the platform instead of it helping me.

And if you're on the Lite plan? You get exactly three automations total. Three. I burned through that limit in my first day just testing things out.

The segmentation situation is similar. Yes, you can segment your list. I created segments based on tags, subscriber fields, and which campaigns people engaged with. But trying to build segments based on complex behaviors - like "people who clicked link A but not link B and joined within the last 30 days" - either wasn't possible or required such convoluted workarounds that I gave up.

The Lite plan restricts you to one custom segment, which is honestly laughable if you're doing any real targeting. Even on the Plus plan where segments are "unlimited," the criteria you can use feel basic compared to what I've used elsewhere.

Now, deliverability. This one's tricky because my emails were landing in inboxes... mostly. I ran my own tests sending to my Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo accounts, plus I checked some third-party testing data. Yahoo and AOL were consistently perfect. Outlook was solid. Gmail, though? That was inconsistent enough that I noticed.

Some campaigns hit the primary inbox every time. Others ended up in promotions or spam, and I couldn't figure out why. Same content style, same sending practices, different results. The independent data I found showed Gmail placement around 81%, which matches what I experienced - good enough that most emails get through, but not reliable enough that I stopped worrying about it.

AWeber will tell you their deliverability exceeds 99%, and technically that might be true if you're measuring whether the email got delivered to the server at all. But that's not the same as inbox placement, which is what actually matters. I don't care if Gmail's server accepted my email if it went straight to spam.

To be fair, I set up all the authentication properly - SPF, DKIM, DMARC - and AWeber's setup process walked me through that clearly. My list hygiene was good. I still saw inconsistency, particularly with Gmail, and since most of my B2B audience uses Gmail, that mattered.

The analytics frustrated me in a different way. They show you the basics - open rates, click rates, unsubscribes, bounces. But I couldn't filter out bot clicks, which inflated my click-through rates and made the data less useful. With Apple's Mail Privacy Protection hiding actual opens, my open rate data became almost meaningless, and AWeber doesn't offer any way to account for that.

I wanted to see heat maps showing where people clicked in my emails. Not available. I wanted to track how subscribers moved through multiple campaigns over time. Too complicated. I wanted to calculate actual ROI by connecting email engagement to sales. Possible only with workarounds and paid plans.

The A/B testing reports show you which version won, but they don't give you much depth beyond that. For someone who likes to dig into why something performed better, the reporting felt shallow.

Here's what really bothered me though: the pricing. AWeber charges $15/month for the Lite plan, which gives you three automations, three landing pages, and one segment. MailerLite's free plan - free - offers more than that. Their paid plan starts at $10/month with significantly better automation capabilities.

I kept asking myself what I was paying extra for. The answer wasn't clear. AWeber has been around forever and has name recognition, but that doesn't justify the premium when the features don't match up. At 10,000 subscribers, AWeber wanted $100-135/month depending on the plan. MailerLite was under $75 for the same list size with better functionality.

The interface doesn't help AWeber's case either. It works, but it feels like it was designed ten years ago and never got a real refresh. Navigation involves more clicking through menus than I'd like. The aesthetic is dated. When I switched between AWeber and MailerLite or Kit, the difference in interface polish was immediately obvious.

This matters more than it sounds like it should. A clunky interface means I spend more time figuring out where things are and less time actually marketing. For new users, the learning curve is steeper than it needs to be.

The mobile app situation sealed it for me. I downloaded the iOS app thinking I could make quick edits to campaigns while traveling. Nope. You can view stats and manage subscribers, but you cannot create or edit campaigns on mobile. I had a typo in a scheduled email subject line, caught it an hour before send time while I was away from my computer, and there was literally nothing I could do except panic and find a coffee shop with WiFi.

AWeber works. I sent emails, people received them, some campaigns performed well. But using it felt like driving a car that gets you where you need to go while constantly reminding you that newer, smoother, cheaper cars exist. The automation limitations, segmentation restrictions, deliverability inconsistencies, basic analytics, dated interface, and premium pricing without premium features added up to an experience that left me looking for alternatives.

What Real Users Say

Looking at reviews across G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, and Software Advice, common themes emerge:

Tory told me he's been reading aweber reviews on his phone during lunch to distract himself. I didn't ask from what. He seemed fine, though. He always seems fine.

Positive feedback:

Negative feedback:

The pattern is clear: AWeber works well for basic email marketing needs, but users outgrow it or get frustrated by limitations and pricing as their needs become more sophisticated.

Trustpilot Reviews: Mixed Sentiment

On Trustpilot, AWeber maintains a 3.9-star rating based on 132 reviews. While many users praise the efficiency and patience of the support team, others express serious concerns about billing issues, unexpected account closures, and communication problems.

Several reviewers reported being charged after canceling their subscriptions, with some stating they had to dispute charges multiple times despite receiving confirmation that their accounts were closed. Others complained about landing pages being taken offline for "automated systems review" without notification, causing business disruptions.

On the positive side, reviewers frequently highlighted the quality of customer support when they could get through, particularly mentioning representatives by name who provided patient, expert assistance.

G2 and Capterra Ratings

On G2, AWeber has mixed reviews with many long-time customers expressing frustration over recent changes. The implementation of new sending limits and significant price increases generated considerable negative feedback. Users who had been with AWeber for years reported feeling abandoned when pricing jumped 50-150% without corresponding feature improvements.

Capterra reviews are more positive, with an overall rating of 4.4/5, though reviewers note limitations in template customization and automation compared to competitors. Users appreciate the ease of use and customer support but wish for more advanced features and better value at higher subscriber counts.

AWeber's History and Evolution

Founded in by Tom Kulzer, AWeber is one of the oldest email marketing platforms still operating. The company pioneered the autoresponder concept - automated email sequences triggered by subscriber actions - which became a cornerstone of email marketing.

For many years, AWeber was the go-to choice for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It was easier to use than competitors and offered reliable deliverability when email marketing was still new. However, as the industry evolved and competitors introduced more sophisticated features, AWeber struggled to keep pace.

The company has made efforts to modernize, introducing features like the Canva integration, AI writing assistant, visual workflow builder, and improved landing page templates. But these updates feel incremental rather than transformative, and many users feel the platform hasn't evolved enough to justify its pricing.

Who Should Use AWeber?

AWeber works best for beginners who actually want help. I'm talking about real phone support when you're stuck, not just chat bots. If you're starting out with under 500 subscribers, their free plan gives you room to learn without pressure. The interface won't wow you, but that's kind of the point. Everything sits where you expect it to, and the templates get emails out the door without fighting the editor.

I'd stick with tools like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit if you need automation that branches based on what people do. AWeber's automation exists, but it's linear. Click this, send that. Their analytics show opens and clicks but don't dig deeper. The pricing jumps fast once you pass 2,500 subscribers, and I've watched people migrate away just for that reason. The builder feels dated compared to newer platforms, and if you're running a shop with complex product funnels, you'll hit walls. Gmail deliverability gave me more trouble here than with other ESPs I've tested.

AWeber Features Deep Dive

Email Builder and Design

AWeber's drag-and-drop email builder allows you to create emails by clicking and dragging content blocks. The builder includes elements like text, images, buttons, videos, dividers, social media icons, and more. You can customize fonts, colors, spacing, and alignment for each element.

The builder supports custom HTML for advanced users who want complete control. You can also save content blocks and entire email templates for reuse across campaigns.

One useful feature: when you paste a link into an email and hit Enter, AWeber automatically expands it into a preview card with an image, title, and description pulled from the linked page. This makes featuring blog posts or products easier.

However, the builder has limitations. Some users report difficulty adjusting core elements like spacing, font sizes, and layout dimensions. The builder doesn't offer as much flexibility as platforms like MailerLite or Brevo, and making precise design adjustments can be frustrating.

Automation Capabilities

AWeber offers two types of automation: campaigns (the older system) and workflows (the newer visual builder).

Campaigns are time-based autoresponders where emails send at specified intervals after a subscriber joins a list. For example, you can set up a welcome series that sends email 1 immediately, email 2 after 3 days, email 3 after 7 days, and so on. This works fine for simple sequences but lacks behavioral triggers.

Workflows (the newer system) offer visual automation with drag-and-drop elements, conditional branching, and behavioral triggers. You can trigger workflows based on actions like subscribing to a list, clicking a link, making a purchase, or receiving a tag. Within workflows, you can add if/else logic to send different messages based on conditions.

For example, you could create a workflow that sends a welcome email immediately when someone subscribes, then waits 2 days and checks if they've clicked a specific link. If yes, send one email; if no, send a different email encouraging them to take action.

While this is better than the old campaign system, it still trails competitors. ActiveCampaign, for instance, offers more trigger options, easier-to-use conditional logic, and better visualization of complex workflows. MailerLite and Brevo also offer more intuitive automation builders at lower price points.

List Management and Segmentation

AWeber organizes subscribers into lists. Each list represents a distinct audience (e.g., blog subscribers, customers, webinar attendees). You can create unlimited lists on the Plus plan but only one list on Free and Lite plans.

The segmentation worked, but when I tried to combine two conditions it kept defaulting back to "match any" instead of "match all." I ended up building them as two separate segments and cross-referencing manually. Not ideal, but it held.

Within lists, you can segment subscribers using tags and custom fields. Tags are labels you apply to subscribers based on their behavior (clicked a link, attended a webinar, purchased a product). Custom fields store information like name, location, birthday, or any data you collect.

Segmentation allows you to send targeted campaigns to specific groups. For example, you could segment customers who purchased product A but not product B, or subscribers who haven't opened an email in 30 days.

However, AWeber's segmentation is more limited than competitors. The Lite plan allows only one saved segment, though you can create temporary segments for individual campaigns. Even on the Plus plan, the segmentation criteria are fairly basic compared to platforms with advanced behavioral segmentation.

Integrations

AWeber integrates with over 750 third-party applications, including:

The integration library is extensive, but setup can require technical knowledge depending on the integration. Some connections are native and straightforward, while others require API keys or Zapier workflows.

Forms and Lead Generation

AWeber includes a form builder for creating signup forms to grow your email list. You can create inline forms (embedded in website content), popup forms (appear over your website), flyout forms (slide in from the side), or standalone forms (hosted on AWeber).

Forms are customizable with your branding, and you can add custom fields to collect specific information. AWeber also supports A/B testing for forms, allowing you to test different designs, copy, or form fields to optimize conversions.

The form builder is functional but not as sophisticated as dedicated lead generation tools. Platforms like OptinMonster or ConvertBox offer more advanced targeting, triggers, and design options for lead capture.

RSS to Email

AWeber's RSS to Email feature automatically converts your blog posts into email newsletters. You connect your blog's RSS feed, choose a template, and AWeber sends an email to subscribers whenever you publish a new post.

This is useful for bloggers and content creators who want to notify subscribers about new content without manually creating emails each time. However, some users have reported issues with RSS feeds not updating consistently or formatting problems with automatically generated emails.

Split Testing

AWeber supports A/B split testing for email campaigns, allowing you to test up to three versions of an email. You can test subject lines, sender names, or email content. AWeber automatically sends the winning version (based on open rate or click rate) to the remaining subscribers.

The split testing functionality is basic compared to platforms like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign, which offer more testing options and better reporting on test results. You can't test multiple variables simultaneously (multivariate testing), and the reporting doesn't provide deep statistical analysis.

Web Push Notifications

AWeber recently added web push notifications, allowing you to send browser notifications to subscribers who opt in. This provides an additional channel for reaching your audience beyond email.

Push notifications appear on desktop or mobile devices even when the recipient isn't actively browsing your website. They're useful for time-sensitive announcements, new content alerts, or promotional offers.

However, the web push feature is fairly basic compared to dedicated push notification platforms, and adoption has been limited since many users don't realize AWeber offers this capability.

AWeber vs. Top Competitors

AWeber vs. MailerLite

MailerLite is frequently mentioned as a superior alternative to AWeber, offering better value and more features at lower prices.

Pricing: MailerLite's free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers (vs. AWeber's 500) and includes most core features. Paid plans start at $10/month, significantly cheaper than AWeber's $15/month Lite plan.

Features: MailerLite includes unlimited emails on all plans (AWeber limits sends to 10-12x subscriber count), better automation with visual workflow builder and advanced triggers, and a more modern, intuitive interface.

Winner: MailerLite offers better value for most users, especially those with growing lists. AWeber only wins on phone support availability.

AWeber vs. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is the gold standard for marketing automation, but it's more expensive than AWeber.

Pricing: ActiveCampaign starts at $29/month for 1,000 contacts - double AWeber's starting price. However, at higher subscriber counts, the pricing gap narrows.

Features: ActiveCampaign offers dramatically better automation with sophisticated conditional logic, lead scoring, predictive sending, CRM functionality, and comprehensive reporting. It's a true marketing automation platform, not just an email tool.

Winner: ActiveCampaign is worth the premium for businesses that need advanced automation and are willing to invest time in learning the platform. AWeber is better for beginners who want simplicity.

AWeber vs. Kit (ConvertKit)

Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is designed specifically for creators - bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators.

Pricing: Kit's free plan covers up to 1,000 subscribers. Paid plans start at $15/month for up to 300 subscribers, then scale based on subscriber count. At higher counts, Kit becomes more expensive than AWeber.

Features: Kit excels at creator-focused features like selling digital products, paid newsletters, and landing pages for lead magnets. The tagging system is more intuitive than AWeber's list-based approach. However, Kit has fewer email templates (23 vs. 600+) and limited design customization.

Winner: Kit is better for creators monetizing content. AWeber is better for businesses that need more email design options and traditional newsletter functionality.

AWeber vs. Brevo (Sendinblue)

Brevo takes a different pricing approach, charging by emails sent rather than subscriber count.

Pricing: Brevo's free plan includes unlimited contacts and 9,000 emails per month. Paid plans start at $25/month for 20,000 emails. If you don't email your list frequently, Brevo can be much cheaper.

Features: Brevo includes email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat in one platform. It offers transactional email capabilities, better automation than AWeber, and a built-in CRM. The interface is modern and intuitive.

Winner: Brevo offers better value for businesses that need multi-channel communication or don't email their lists constantly. AWeber is simpler for pure email marketing.

AWeber vs. Mailchimp

Mailchimp is the most recognizable email marketing brand, though opinions on quality are mixed.

Gerald made breakfast this weekend without being asked. Eggs, toast, the whole thing. I told him it was good and he said he followed a video. Thirty-one years and he's watching cooking videos now.

Pricing: Mailchimp's free plan covers 500 subscribers (same as AWeber). Paid plans start at $13/month for 500 contacts. Pricing becomes expensive as lists grow, often exceeding AWeber.

Features: Mailchimp offers more features than AWeber, including better analytics, more integrations, social media ad tools, and postcards/direct mail. However, the interface can be overwhelming, and support is limited on lower-tier plans.

Winner: Mailchimp offers more features for businesses that want an all-in-one marketing platform. AWeber is simpler and offers better support, especially phone support.

AWeber vs. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is another long-established email marketing platform targeting small businesses.

Pricing: Constant Contact starts at $12/month for up to 500 contacts, slightly cheaper than AWeber. Both platforms have similar pricing structures as lists grow.

Features: Both platforms offer similar core features with Constant Contact having a slight edge in social media tools and event management. AWeber has better automation capabilities. Both have somewhat dated interfaces compared to newer platforms.

Winner: Toss-up. Neither platform stands out dramatically. Constant Contact is slightly better for event-based businesses; AWeber is slightly better for automation.

AWeber Alternatives Worth Considering

Given AWeber's limitations, here are better options depending on your needs:

For Better Value: MailerLite

MailerLite offers a more generous free plan (1,000 subscribers vs. 500), better automation with visual workflow builder, and lower pricing. The interface is modern and intuitive, and most users report it's easier to use than AWeber. At $10/month for the entry-level paid plan, it's also cheaper while offering more features.

The main advantage AWeber has is phone support, which MailerLite doesn't offer. But if you're comfortable with email and chat support, MailerLite is the better choice for most small businesses.

For Better Automation: ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is the gold standard for marketing automation. More expensive ($29/month starting), but the automation capabilities are leagues ahead of AWeber. You get sophisticated conditional logic, behavioral triggers, lead scoring, CRM integration, and predictive sending.

ActiveCampaign also offers better segmentation, reporting, and deliverability than AWeber. It's the right choice if your email marketing strategy depends on sophisticated, behavior-driven automation and you're willing to invest time learning the platform.

For Creators: Kit (ConvertKit)

Kit is designed for bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and course creators selling digital products. Better automation than AWeber with creator-friendly features like product sales, paid newsletters, and incentive emails.

The tag-based subscriber management system is more intuitive than AWeber's list-based approach for creators managing multiple lead magnets. However, email design options are limited - only 23 templates compared to AWeber's 600+.

For Unlimited Contacts: Brevo

Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) charges by emails sent rather than subscribers, which can save money if you have a large list but don't email frequently. The free plan includes unlimited contacts and 9,000 emails/month.

Brevo also includes SMS marketing, WhatsApp, chat, and transactional email in one platform. The automation is better than AWeber's, and the interface is modern. It's ideal for businesses that need multi-channel communication.

For eCommerce: Klaviyo

If you run an online store, Klaviyo is purpose-built for ecommerce email marketing. It offers sophisticated automation based on purchase behavior, abandoned cart recovery, product recommendations, and detailed revenue attribution.

Klaviyo integrates deeply with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other ecommerce platforms, syncing customer data and purchase history automatically. It's more expensive than AWeber but delivers significantly better ROI for ecommerce businesses through personalized, behavior-driven campaigns.

For All-in-One Marketing: HubSpot

HubSpot offers a free email marketing tool with up to 2,000 emails per month. The free tier includes email, forms, landing pages, live chat, and basic CRM - far more than AWeber's free plan.

Paid plans are expensive but include comprehensive marketing automation, sales CRM, customer service tools, and content management. HubSpot is best for businesses that want an all-in-one platform and are willing to invest in the ecosystem.

For Simplicity: Beehiiv

Beehiiv is a modern newsletter platform focused on writers and publishers. It offers a clean writing experience, built-in referral programs, monetization tools, and growth features like recommendations and cross-promotions.

If you're primarily focused on newsletter publishing rather than complex email marketing campaigns, Beehiiv offers a better experience than AWeber with a more modern interface and creator-focused features. Pricing is competitive, starting at $42/month for up to 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends.

Looking for more options? Check out our guides on best email marketing software and email marketing for small business.

How to Migrate from AWeber

If you've decided to leave AWeber, here's how to make the transition smooth:

Step 1: Export Your Contacts

Log into AWeber, go to Subscribers > Export, and download your subscriber lists as CSV files. Export all lists separately, and make sure to include all custom fields and tags. Do this before canceling your account, as you lose access to data after cancellation.

Step 2: Document Your Automations

AWeber doesn't let you export automation workflows. Before canceling, document each automation sequence: what triggers it, what emails it includes, the timing between emails, and any conditions or segmentation rules. Take screenshots if necessary.

Step 3: Download Email Templates

Save copies of your email templates. You can export them as HTML or take screenshots for reference. This will save time recreating designs in your new platform.

Step 4: Choose Your New Platform

Based on your needs and budget, select a new email marketing platform. Most platforms offer free trials, so test before committing. Many also offer free migration assistance if you're moving from a competitor.

Step 5: Import Contacts

Most email platforms make importing contacts easy - just upload your CSV file and map the fields. Make sure to preserve your custom fields and tags so you maintain your segmentation.

Step 6: Recreate Automations

Rebuild your automation sequences in the new platform. This is a good opportunity to improve them, taking advantage of better features your new platform offers.

Step 7: Update Forms and Integrations

Update signup forms on your website, landing pages, and social media to point to your new email platform. Reconnect integrations with your CRM, ecommerce platform, and other tools.

Step 8: Test Everything

Send test campaigns to yourself, trigger test automations, and verify that all integrations work correctly. It's better to discover issues during testing than after launching to your full list.

Step 9: Announce the Change (Optional)

Consider sending one final email from AWeber letting subscribers know you're changing platforms. This helps manage expectations if they notice differences in email appearance or sender details.

Step 10: Cancel AWeber

Once everything is working on the new platform, cancel your AWeber subscription. Go to Account Settings > Billing > Cancel Account. Be aware that some users have reported billing issues after cancellation, so monitor your bank statements to ensure charges stop.

Tips for Getting the Most from AWeber

If you decide AWeber is right for you, here are tips to maximize your results:

Chris asked me this afternoon if I wanted coffee from the place down the street. I said I was fine. Gerald always says I should accept things when people offer - I'm still working on that.

1. Use the Smart Designer

Instead of starting from scratch, use Smart Designer to automatically create branded templates from your website URL. This saves time and ensures brand consistency.

2. Leverage Canva Integration

Take advantage of the built-in Canva integration to create professional graphics without design skills. This is especially useful for email headers, promotional banners, and social media images.

3. Set Up Basic Automations First

Even with AWeber's limited automation, you should implement these essential sequences: welcome series for new subscribers, abandoned cart recovery (if selling products), post-purchase follow-up, and re-engagement campaigns for inactive subscribers.

4. Maintain List Hygiene

Regularly clean your list by removing unengaged subscribers. This improves deliverability and reduces costs since you're not paying for subscribers who never open emails. AWeber charges based on total subscribers, so keeping your list clean directly impacts your bill.

5. Use Tags Effectively

Since AWeber's segmentation is limited, make strategic use of tags to track subscriber behavior and interests. Tag subscribers based on link clicks, purchases, content preferences, and engagement levels. This allows more targeted campaigns even with basic segmentation.

6. Test Subject Lines

Use AWeber's A/B testing to optimize subject lines. Small improvements in open rates compound over time, significantly impacting overall campaign performance.

7. Authenticate Your Domain

Set up custom DKIM and DMARC authentication for your domain. This improves deliverability by proving to email providers that your emails are legitimate. AWeber's support team can help with this setup.

8. Create Reusable Content Blocks

Save frequently used content sections (headers, footers, promotional boxes) as reusable blocks. This ensures consistency across campaigns and speeds up email creation.

9. Use RSS to Email for Blogs

If you publish blog content regularly, set up RSS to Email to automatically notify subscribers about new posts. This keeps your list engaged without manual work.

10. Monitor Deliverability

Pay attention to bounce rates, spam complaints, and unsubscribe rates. High numbers in any category indicate deliverability issues that need addressing. AWeber provides these metrics in campaign reports.

Common AWeber Problems and Solutions

Problem: Emails Going to Spam

Solution: Ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), avoid spam trigger words, maintain list hygiene by removing unengaged subscribers, and always use double opt-in for new subscribers.

Problem: Low Open Rates

Solution: Test different subject lines, send times, and sender names. Segment your list to send more relevant content to specific groups. Clean your list of inactive subscribers who drag down engagement metrics.

Problem: Automation Not Triggering

Solution: Check that automation is set to "active" status. Verify trigger conditions are set correctly. Ensure subscribers meet the criteria to enter the automation. Test with a test subscriber to isolate the issue.

Problem: Templates Not Displaying Correctly

Solution: Test emails across multiple email clients before sending. Use AWeber's preview feature. Avoid complex layouts that may render differently in various email clients. Stick to simple, responsive designs.

Problem: Unexpected Charges

Solution: AWeber automatically upgrades your plan when you exceed subscriber limits. Monitor your subscriber count and manually clean your list regularly. Contact support to downgrade if your count decreases.

Problem: Subscribers Not Receiving Emails

Solution: Check that subscribers confirmed their email address (if using double opt-in). Verify they haven't unsubscribed or marked previous emails as spam. Ask them to check spam folders and whitelist your sender address.

The Future of AWeber

AWeber faces increasing competition from more modern, feature-rich platforms at similar or lower price points. To remain competitive, the company needs to:

AWeber has shown willingness to evolve with additions like the visual workflow builder, AI writing assistant, and Canva integration. However, these updates feel incremental rather than transformative. Unless AWeber makes more significant improvements, it risks becoming increasingly irrelevant as users migrate to better alternatives.

The company's strong customer support and reliable infrastructure remain advantages, but these alone aren't enough to overcome fundamental limitations in features and value proposition.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is AWeber good for beginners?

Yes, AWeber is one of the most beginner-friendly email marketing platforms. The interface is straightforward, the onboarding guides you through setup, and the 24/7 phone support helps when you get stuck. However, beginners can get equal or better ease of use from platforms like MailerLite at lower cost.

Can I use AWeber for free?

Yes, AWeber offers a free plan for up to 500 subscribers with 3,000 emails per month. The free plan includes basic email marketing, one automation, three landing pages, and access to email support. However, it includes AWeber branding on emails and has limited features compared to paid plans.

How much does AWeber cost per month?

AWeber pricing starts at $15/month for the Lite plan (up to 500 subscribers) and $30/month for the Plus plan (up to 500 subscribers). Costs increase as your subscriber count grows. For 10,000 subscribers, expect to pay $100-135/month depending on the plan.

Is AWeber better than Mailchimp?

Neither is definitively "better" - it depends on your needs. AWeber offers better phone support and is simpler to use. Mailchimp offers more features, better analytics, and more integrations but has a steeper learning curve and limited support on lower-tier plans. For pure email marketing, many users prefer alternatives like MailerLite or ActiveCampaign over both.

Can I sell products through AWeber?

Yes, AWeber includes basic ecommerce features. You can integrate with Stripe and PayPal to sell digital products, accept donations, and set up subscriptions directly through email and landing pages. However, the ecommerce capabilities are basic compared to dedicated platforms like Shopify or specialized tools like Klaviyo.

Does AWeber have good deliverability?

AWeber's deliverability is acceptable but not industry-leading. Independent testing shows around 83% inbox placement overall, with particular weakness in Gmail (81%). This ranks near the bottom compared to competitors. Deliverability improves with proper list hygiene, authentication, and engagement practices.

Can AWeber integrate with WordPress?

Yes, AWeber offers a WordPress plugin that allows you to add signup forms, manage subscribers, and track conversions directly from your WordPress dashboard. The integration is straightforward and works with most WordPress themes.

How do I cancel AWeber?

To cancel AWeber, log into your account, go to Account Settings > Billing > Cancel Account, and follow the prompts. Export your contacts before canceling as you lose access after cancellation. Note that some users report billing issues after cancellation, so monitor your statements.

Does AWeber offer phone support?

Yes, AWeber offers 24/7 phone support on all plans, including free. This is rare among email marketing platforms at this price point. The support team is US-based and consistently receives positive reviews for helpfulness and responsiveness.

What's the difference between AWeber campaigns and workflows?

Campaigns are AWeber's older automation system using time-based autoresponders. Workflows are the newer visual automation builder with drag-and-drop functionality, behavioral triggers, and conditional logic. Workflows are more powerful but still limited compared to competitors like ActiveCampaign.

The Bottom Line

After spending time with AWeber, I keep coming back to the same thought: this platform is fine, but that's the problem. In , "fine" isn't enough when I'm paying $20/month for features I can get elsewhere for half that.

Gerald asked how my week was going and I said long. He said mine too, and then we just watched TV for a while. That was enough.

The phone support is genuinely impressive - I called twice and got helpful humans both times within minutes. And the drag-and-drop editor does what it needs to do without fighting me. If you're brand new to email marketing and get anxious without phone support, AWeber's free plan makes sense as training wheels.

But here's what actually bothered me: I hit automation limits faster than expected. I wanted to tag subscribers based on link clicks and send different follow-ups - something I'd done easily in other platforms. AWeber made me jump through hoops or upgrade. The templates look like they're from . And when I tested deliverability with a small campaign, my open rates were noticeably lower than what I'd seen with the same list on MailerLite.

The pricing structure also stings once you cross 500 subscribers. You're suddenly paying premium prices for mid-tier features.

If you're serious about email marketing, start with something you won't outgrow in six months. MailerLite gives you more for less. ActiveCampaign is worth the premium if you need real automation. Kit works beautifully for creators. Brevo makes sense if you have a huge list but send infrequently.

AWeber isn't bad - it's just outclassed. It works if all you need is basic broadcasts and you really value phone support. But I wouldn't build my business on it.

Rating: 3/5 - Reliable but uninspiring. Good enough for beginners who need hand-holding, not competitive for anyone else.

Want to try it anyway? Start with their free plan and test it yourself. Or skip ahead: try MailerLite's free tier, explore ActiveCampaign's automation, or read our guides on best email marketing software and email marketing for small business.