Choosing the right email marketing platform can make or break your digital marketing strategy. With so many options available, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by features, pricing plans, and technical jargon.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare three popular email marketing platforms—AWeber, GetResponse, and Mailchimp—to help you make an informed decision that best suits your business needs.
1. Ease of use: Which platform is the most user-friendly?
All three platforms offer user-friendly interfaces, but they cater to different types of users.
AWeber: Minimalist and straightforward
AWeber shines with its clean, minimalist design perfect for beginners, focusing on core email marketing functions without overwhelming users with advanced features. Its straightforward navigation makes it easy to create and send emails, though it only offers an English interface and may feel limiting as marketing needs grow.
GetResponse: Modern and feature-rich
GetResponse offers a clean, modern interface that balances simplicity with functionality, organizing features logically with a Quick Actions widget for instant access to common tasks. Available in over 10 languages, it provides interactive walkthroughs for new users and cleaner navigation for long-term use, though there’s a slight learning curve due to its more comprehensive feature set.
Mailchimp: Guided and intuitive
Mailchimp has built its reputation partly on its user-friendly interface, with a well-organized dashboard and guided workflows that walk users through each step of creating campaigns. The platform excels at providing a structured approach to email marketing for beginners, though its English-only interface limits international teams and some advanced features are buried in submenus.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ Straightforward navigation ✅ Minimal learning curve ✅ Focus on essential email tasks | ❌ English-only interface ❌ Can feel limited as needs grow |
| GetResponse | ✅ Multilingual interface ✅ Intuitive organization ✅ Interactive walkthroughs | ❌ Slight learning curve due to more features |
| Mailchimp | ✅ Guided campaign creation ✅ Clean, intuitive email builder ✅ Helpful beginner onboarding | ❌ English-only interface ❌ Advanced features buried in submenus |
2. Email marketing capabilities
Email marketing is the core function of all three platforms, but they differ in how they approach campaign creation, sending limits, and special features.
AWeber: Reliable basics with a few extras
AWeber covers all the email marketing essentials with a straightforward approach, offering a drag-and-drop email builder with templates, AI writing assistance, basic A/B testing, and RSS-to-Email functionality. Paid plans have monthly sending limits tied to subscriber count, which is usually sufficient for typical use cases but could be restrictive for frequent senders.
GetResponse: Comprehensive email tools with unlimited sending
GetResponse provides robust email marketing features including an intuitive builder with modern templates, AI tools, advanced A/B testing with up to 5 variants, and send-time optimization. It offers unlimited email sending on all paid plans and stands out with its Autoresponders feature, which uses a calendar view to visualize drip campaigns for easier management of lead nurturing sequences and email courses.
Mailchimp: Structured Campaigns with Some Limitations
Mailchimp delivers strong email marketing capabilities with a structured approach, offering a drag-and-drop builder, subject line helper, A/B testing with up to 3 variants, and automated RSS-to-email functionality. However, campaigns can only target one audience at a time, which becomes restrictive for cross-list sends, and the platform limits email templates and sending capabilities on lower-tier plans.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ Drag-and-drop email builder ✅ AI writing assistant ✅ Basic A/B testing | ❌ Monthly sending limits ❌ Limited advanced features |
| GetResponse | ✅ Modern email templates with unlimited email sending ✅ Advanced functionalities ✅ AI email and subject line generator | ❌ Some features require higher-tier plans |
| Mailchimp | ✅ Easy-to-use builder ✅ Subject line helper ✅ Revenue-based A/B testing | ❌ Limited templates on lower plans |
Unlimited email sending with GetResponse
Stop worrying about sending limits and unexpected overage charges. GetResponse offers truly unlimited email sending on all paid plans, so you can communicate with your audience as often as needed.
3. Automation: from basic to advanced
Marketing automation can save time and increase engagement by sending the right message at the right moment. Here’s how these platforms compare:
AWeber: Simple linear sequences
AWeber offers straightforward but limited automation capabilities, providing basic linear sequences for drip campaigns, simple triggers based on time delays and link clicks, and tag-based subscriber management. Its automation is best suited for simple needs like welcome sequences or basic follow-ups but becomes restrictive for those requiring complex, behavior-based workflows.
GetResponse: Advanced visual automation
GetResponse delivers true marketing automation with a visual workflow builder, 40+ prebuilt templates, and sophisticated triggers based on email engagement, website behavior, purchases, and more. With advanced branching based on subscriber actions, lead scoring, and web event tracking, its automation capabilities rival dedicated marketing automation platforms, making it suitable for complex customer journeys.
Mailchimp: Mid-range automation
Mailchimp’s automation falls between AWeber and GetResponse, offering a visual Customer Journey Builder with 90+ ready-made templates but restricting functionality based on plan tier. The Free and Essentials plans are limited to very basic sequences, while multi-step journeys with branching logic require the Standard plan or higher.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ Basic linear sequences ✅ Simple time-based triggers ✅ Tag-based management | ❌ No visual workflow builder ❌ Limited to basic automations ❌ No behavior-based triggers |
| GetResponse | ✅ Visual workflow builder ✅ 40+ automation templates ✅ Multi-channel triggers | ❌ Can overwhelm beginners |
| Mailchimp | ✅ Visual Journey Builder ✅ Ready-made templates ✅ Multi-step journeys | ❌ Advanced automation requires higher plans |
4. Email design and customization
The look and feel of your emails can significantly impact engagement. Here’s how these platforms compare on design capabilities:
AWeber: Functional with interactive options
AWeber’s email design tools include a drag-and-drop editor, library of 700+ templates (though many look dated), Canva integration, a “Smart Designer” that creates templates matching your website, and support for AMP emails with interactive elements. This AMP support enables interactive components like surveys and carousels directly within emails—a feature neither GetResponse nor Mailchimp offers natively.
GetResponse: Modern templates and advanced tools
GetResponse provides intuitive design capabilities with 150+ modern templates, dynamic elements like countdown timers and product boxes, Shutterstock and Giphy integrations, and valuable testing tools like inbox preview and a built-in spam checker. Its AI email generator enables quick content creation, and reusable content blocks maintain consistency across campaigns.
Mailchimp: Structured design with some limitations
Mailchimp offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, 250+ templates, and a creative assistant for brand-matching designs, but restricts template access and HTML editing on lower plans. The platform lacks built-in spam testing and requires the Premium plan for Inbox Preview via Litmus, limiting design testing capabilities for most users.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ AMP emails support ✅ Canva integration ✅ Smart Designer tool | ❌ Many dated templates ❌ Basic customization options |
| GetResponse | ✅ Modern templates ✅ Dynamic content elements ✅ Built-in spam checker | ❌ No AMP email support |
| Mailchimp | ✅ User-friendly editor ✅ Creative assistant ✅ Brand-matching templates | ❌ Template access restricted on lower plans ❌ HTML editing requires Standard plan ❌ Inbox preview costs extra |
5. Landing pages and website building
Beyond email, most marketers need landing pages to capture leads and showcase products. How do these platforms compare?
AWeber: Basic landing page builder
AWeber offers a basic landing page builder with templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and integration with analytics tools, but lacks A/B testing on the free plan and provides no website building capabilities. Its landing page tools are functional but basic, suitable for simple lead capture pages but lacking advanced features for optimization.
GetResponse: Comprehensive website and landing page solution
GetResponse provides a comprehensive solution with 200+ landing page templates, an AI builder, and a full website builder offering unlimited pages and integrated payment processing. Its Conversion Funnel feature creates complete sales sequences, eliminating the need for separate tools while creating a seamless experience from page creation to email follow-up.
Mailchimp: Limited landing page options
Mailchimp’s landing page features include a drag-and-drop builder with only nine template options, limited customization capabilities, and no built-in sales funnel features or website building functionality. This significantly restricts its usefulness compared to the other platforms, particularly for businesses needing to create multiple optimized landing pages.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ Basic landing page builder ✅ Mobile responsive pages ✅ Analytics integration | ❌ No A/B testing on free plan ❌ No website builder ❌ Limited design flexibility |
| GetResponse | ✅ 200+ landing page templates ✅ Full website builder ✅ Integrated payment processing | ✅ None |
| Mailchimp | ✅ Drag-and-drop builder ✅ Audience integration ✅ Product display capabilities | ❌ Only nine template options ❌ Limited customization ❌ No website builder |
Build complete sales funnels with GetResponse
GetResponse offers 200+ landing page templates, a full website builder, and integrated payment processing. Save time, reduce costs, and boost conversions with an all-in-one marketing solution.
6. Forms and lead capture
Sign-up forms and pop-ups are essential for growing your email list. Let’s see how these platforms handle lead capture.
AWeber: Functional but dated
AWeber provides basic form templates with HTML editing, color and field customization, and mobile responsiveness, but many users find the form editor clunky and difficult to navigate. Its outdated interface can be frustrating to use, and the platform offers limited targeting options for pop-ups.
GetResponse: Advanced and targeted
GetResponse recently upgraded its form capabilities with a variety of types (pop-ups, full-screen overlays, top bars, slide-ins), modern templates, and advanced targeting based on user behavior. Its ability to display unique offers based on page visits or cart value and comprehensive drag-and-drop builder rival dedicated pop-up tools.
Mailchimp: Basic but functional
Mailchimp offers embedded forms, pop-ups with basic timing controls, and hosted form pages, but with limited design options for embedded forms and fewer form types and trigger options than GetResponse. While functional, its form capabilities lack the variety and advanced targeting found in GetResponse.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ Basic form templates ✅ HTML editor ✅ Mobile responsive | ❌ Outdated interface ❌ Limited targeting options ❌ Clunky editor |
| GetResponse | ✅ Multiple form types ✅ Advanced targeting ✅ Modern templates | ✅ None |
| Mailchimp | ✅ Embedded forms ✅ Pop-up forms ✅ Hosted form pages | ❌ Limited design options ❌ Fewer form types ❌ Basic trigger options |
7. Webinars and content monetization
For businesses looking to engage audiences with live events or sell digital products, webinar and course capabilities can be game-changers.
AWeber: No native tools
AWeber doesn’t offer any built-in webinar or course creation capabilities, requiring users to rely on third-party platforms for these functions and manually coordinate marketing between different systems. The platform can only help with email promotion, sending invitations and follow-ups for events hosted elsewhere.
GetResponse: Built-in webinars and courses
GetResponse stands out by including built-in webinar hosting with screen sharing, interactive chat, and recording capabilities, plus online course creation tools with progress tracking and content monetization features. These integrated tools eliminate the need for separate platforms, potentially saving hundreds of dollars monthly while creating a seamless experience.
Mailchimp: No native tools
Mailchimp, like AWeber, doesn’t offer any native webinar or course capabilities, limiting its usefulness to email promotion for events hosted on third-party platforms.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ❌No webinar and course functionalities | ❌No webinar and course functionalities |
| GetResponse | ✅ Built-in webinar hosting ✅ Course creation tools ✅ Newsletter monetization solution | ❌ Attendee limits on lower plans |
| Mailchimp | ❌No webinar and course functionalities | ❌No webinar and course functionalities |
8. Integrations and connectivity
Most businesses use multiple tools, so integration capabilities can be crucial for streamlined operations.
AWeber: Legacy advantage
AWeber benefits from its long history with an extensive integration library, native connections to many niche tools, direct Canva integration, and compatibility with Zapier for thousands more connections. Many third-party applications have built-in AWeber support due to its established presence in the market.
GetResponse: Focused but comprehensive
GetResponse offers 170+ direct integrations with popular business tools, native connections to major platforms like Shopify and Salesforce, direct links to advertising systems, and powerful API access for custom development. Its focus on key business platforms covers most needs, with particularly strong ecommerce and advertising integrations.
Mailchimp: Integration champion
Mailchimp boasts 800+ direct integrations, widespread adoption across the SaaS ecosystem, and native support in countless third-party applications. Its well-documented API and robust Zapier integration make it highly connectable, providing an extensive ecosystem that few platforms can match.
9. Customer support
When you hit a roadblock, quality support can make all the difference.
AWeber: Personal touch
AWeber emphasizes personal service with live chat, email, and phone support on all paid plans, weekend availability, and free migration assistance for new users. Many customers appreciate the phone support option, which is increasingly rare in the SaaS world, though the platform lacks multilingual support.
GetResponse: Always available
GetResponse provides 24/7 live chat support on all paid plans, email assistance in multiple languages, and white-glove service with dedicated account managers on higher plans. Its round-the-clock availability particularly benefits international businesses or those working outside standard hours, though phone support is limited to Enterprise customers.
Mailchimp: Tiered support system
Mailchimp employs a tiered support system with restricted access for lower-tier users—Free plan users receive email support for only 30 days, while phone support and priority service require Premium plans. This approach essentially uses support as an upsell feature, creating frustration for users on lower plans.
| Provider | Pros | Cons |
| AWeber | ✅ Phone support available ✅ Weekend support ✅ Free migration service | ❌ No multilingual support |
| GetResponse | ✅ 24/7 live chat ✅ Multilingual support ✅ Comprehensive knowledge base | ❌ Phone support for Enterprise only |
| Mailchimp | ✅ 24/7 email and chat (paid) ✅ Extensive knowledge base ✅ Community forums | ❌ Free plan: 30-day support only ❌ Phone support requires Premium ❌ Support is English-only |
10. Pricing and value
Ultimately, value comes down to what you get for your money. Let’s break down the pricing structures and value propositions:
AWeber: Middle-ground pricing
AWeber offers simple pricing:
- Lite plan: Starts at $25/month for 1,000 subscribers
- Plus plan: Starts at $45/month for 1,000 subscribers
- Unlimited plan: $899/month for unlimited subscribers
Recent price increases without grandfathering existing users have caused frustration among the AWeber user base. The platform imposes sending limits even on its expensive Unlimited plan (which only allows unlimited contacts, not unlimited emails).
GetResponse: Most bang for your Buck
GetResponse offers tiered pricing with more features at each level:
- Starter: From $19/month for 1,000 subscribers
- Marketer: From $69/month for 1,000 subscribers
- Creator: From $89/month for 1,000 subscribers
GetResponse offers unlimited email sending on all paid plans and only charges for active subscribers, making it more cost-effective, especially as your list grows. The comprehensive feature set at each tier provides excellent value.
Mailchimp: Increasingly expensive at scale
Mailchimp’s pricing structure:
- Essentials: From $26.50/month for 1,000 subscribers
- Standard: From $45/month for 1,000 subscribers
- Premium: Starts at $350/month (up to 10,000 subscribers)
Mailchimp has become increasingly expensive following its acquisition by Intuit. The platform counts unsubscribed contacts toward billing limits and imposes sending restrictions on lower plans, which can drive up costs unexpectedly.
| Subscriber Count | Basic/Starter Plans | Standard/Mid-Tier Plans | Premium/Pro Plans | |||||
| GetResponse Starter | AWeber Lite | Mailchimp Essentials | GetResponse Marketer | AWeber Plus | Mailchimp Standard | GetResponse Creator | Mailchimp Premium | |
| 1,000 | $19 | $25 | $26.50 | $59 | $45 | $45 | $69 | $350 |
| 2,500 | $29 | $35 | $45 | $69 | $55 | $60 | $79 | $350 |
| 5,000 | $54 | $60 | $75 | $95 | $90 | $100 | $109 | $350 |
| 10,000 | $79 | $100 | $110 | $114 | $135 | $135 | $134 | $350 |
| 25,000 | $174 | $210 | $270 | $215 | $250 | $310 | $249 | $620 |
| 50,000 | $299 | $375 | $385 | $359 | $400 | $450 | $414 | $815 |
Get more features for less with GetResponse
With unlimited email sending, built-in webinars, website building, and advanced automation included in your subscription, you’ll save hundreds or even thousands compared to piecing together multiple tools.
Who should choose each platform?
Choose AWeber if:
- You’re a complete beginner looking for the simplest possible email marketing tool
- Phone support is essential to your business needs
- You rely on specific niche tool integrations that AWeber supports
- You want interactive AMP email capabilities
- You prioritize simplicity over advanced features
Choose GetResponse if:
- You need advanced automation with behavior-based triggers
- You want an all-in-one platform for emails, websites, webinars, and courses
- You’re looking for the best long-term value as your list grows
- You require multilingual support or 24/7 assistance
- You plan to use sophisticated marketing techniques like sales funnels and lead scoring
- You want unlimited email sending without caps or restrictions
Choose Mailchimp if:
- You need one of their 800+ direct integrations
- You’re willing to pay more for a familiar, widely-recognized brand
- You prefer highly structured, guided campaign creation processes
- You value their slightly better deliverability rates
- You need their specific advertising integration capabilities
The final verdict
After comparing these three email marketing platforms across all major categories, GetResponse emerges as the overall winner for most businesses, particularly those looking for growth and advanced marketing capabilities.
GetResponse offers the most comprehensive feature set, the best value for money, and the most room to grow as your marketing needs evolve. Its all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple separate tools, creating a more streamlined workflow and potentially significant cost savings.
AWeber remains a solid choice for beginners who prioritize simplicity and phone support, while Mailchimp’s extensive integration ecosystem might be valuable for businesses with specific connectivity requirements.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and growth plans. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each platform, you can make an informed decision that supports your marketing goals now and in the future.
