When it comes to connecting with your audience, email and SMS stand out above the rest. In fact, 41% of marketers say email is their most effective marketing channel, while 78% of customers prioritize SMS messages over other phone activities like social media (66%).
So, whether you’re launching a new product, sharing a promotion, or simply engaging customers, finding the right marketing platform can make all the difference. But with so many options available, how do you determine which suits your needs best?
We’ve rounded up five of the best email and SMS marketing tools, each notable for its features, that can help take your business to the next level.
What to Look for in the Best Email and SMS Marketing Platforms
When looking for the best email marketing software with SMS functionalities, several key features can significantly impact your success. Let’s dive into the most important ones.
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Ease of Use
The best email marketing platforms have drag-and-drop builders and intuitive dashboards that make it easy to create emails and SMS campaigns. This is crucial because not everyone is a coding expert, and marketers need to focus on content creation and customer relationships, not technicalities.
Choosing software that simplifies your workflow means you can spend more time engaging with your audience and less time figuring out the tech.
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Automation
Automation is a game-changer for scaling your email marketing efforts. You can use some email marketing automation tools to boost your marketing efforts. Features like triggered emails and SMS workflows, allow you to set up campaigns that run on autopilot and based on customer actions. This is key to growing your business efficiently while maintaining a personal touch.
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Segmentation and Personalization
Personalized campaigns—whether a custom greeting in an email or a targeted offer via SMS—create engaging experiences for your audience, leading to higher open rates, clicks, and conversions.
So, choose a marketing platform that offers advanced segmentation and personalization to boost customer engagement.
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Analytics and Reporting Tools
Insightful data such as open rates, click-through rates, and other engagement metrics help you understand what’s working and what’s not.
The best email marketing service provides easy-to-read dashboards that allow you to monitor these metrics in real time. This way, you can adjust your strategy and optimize your campaigns to succeed.
Comparison Table: Best Email And SMS Marketing Tools
| Software | Free Plan | Pricing (Starter) | Email Features | SMS Features |
| Sender | Yes | $15 per month (2,500 subscribers, 30,000 emails) | Email automation, drag-and-drop email builder, segmentation, real-time reporting | SMS automation,SMS campaigns |
| Klaviyo | Yes | $45 per month (1,500 profiles, 15,000 emails) | Data-centric email campaigns, ecommerce integration, reporting | SMS campaigns, mobile push notifications |
| GetResponse | 30-day free trial | $19 per month (1,000 contacts) | Drag-and-drop creator, segmentation, autoresponders | SMS marketing automation (Enterprise plan only) |
| Brevo | Yes, 300 emails/day | $9 per month (5,000 emails) | Email campaigns, drag-and-drop editor, basic automation | SMS scheduling, transactional messages |
| Campaign Monitor | Yes, but only for 5 contacts | $44 per month (1,000 contacts) | Drag-and-drop builder, customizable templates, transactional emails | SMS marketing (contact support team) |
| Selzy | Yes | $5.25/mo (Pricing) | Unlimited emails, up to 50,000 contacts, automation, segmentation | SMS marketing (contact support team) |
Best Email and SMS Marketing Software
Let’s now look at five of the best email and SMS marketing platforms that can help you enhance your marketing campaigns.
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Sender
Sender tops our list as one of the best email and SMS marketing tools for a good reason. It offers a generous free plan with all email automation features and top-notch customer service—even for free users.Its interface is easy to navigate, so anyone can easily set up email marketing campaigns. Furthermore, you don’t need any design skills to create stunning emails, thanks to its drag-and-drop email builder and responsive templates.
Sender also offers powerful lead capture popups and audience segmentation features so you can send targeted messages to boost engagement. Once you start running your campaigns, you can gain insights into what’s working and what’s not with real-time reporting and analytics to boost campaign performance.
But Sender isn’t just about email—it’s a complete omnichannel solution with both email and SMS marketing automation. This means you can reach your audience on their phones and communicate seamlessly across platforms. By combining email and SMS, you can build smart workflows that ensure the right message reaches the right person at the perfect time.
This level of automation, affordability, intuitive designs, and powerful features make Sender a standout choice for businesses looking to grow through effective omnichannel marketing.
Key Features:
- Email and SMS marketing automation
- Audience segmentation and personalization
- Drag-and-drop email builder with responsive templates
- Real-time reporting and analytics
- 24/7 friendly customer service
Pricing:
- Free Forever: $0 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails
- Standard: $15 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers and 30,000 emails
- Professional: $29 per month for up to 2,500 subscribers and 60,000 emails
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing
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Klaviyo
Klaviyo is a robust email and SMS marketing platform known for its exceptional data-centric approach. Its integration capabilities with platforms like Shopify make it a go-to choice for ecommerce brands looking to automate personalized campaigns with ease.The platform offers a wide range of automation features, from cart abandonment to product recommendations, along with detailed analytics to optimize performance.
However, while Klaviyo shines in its data-driven features and ecommerce integrations, it can be a bit overwhelming for beginners. The platform’s pricing structure also increases as your contact list grows, which might not be budget-friendly, especially for small businesses just starting out.
Key Features:
- Email and SMS marketing campaigns
- Integration with ecommerce platforms
- Reporting and analytics
- Mobile push notifications
Pricing:
- Free: $0 per month for up to 1,500 profiles and 500 emails
- Email: $45 per month for up to 1,500 profiles and 15,000 emails
- Email and SMS: $60 per month for up to 1,500 profiles and 15,000 emails
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GetResponse
GetResponse is a marketing automation platform that offers robust email and SMS marketing features. With its drag-and-drop creator, over 200 pre-designed templates, and advanced autoresponder options, GetResponse helps you easily create and automate your email campaigns.You can also use its segmentation tools to send targeted emails based on user behavior. For SMS marketing, the platform allows you to send bulk text messages to shoppers based on selected conditions and customer behavior.
That said, its SMS marketing automation features are only available on its Enterprise plan, and the free plan is quite limited. Additionally, its pricing increases significantly from one tier to the next, which might not be ideal for small businesses.
Key Features:
- Email and SMS marketing automation
- Advanced segmentation
- Autoresponders
- Web push notifications
Pricing:
- Free plan: 30-day free trial
- Email Marketing: $19 per month for up to 1,000 contacts
- Marketing Automation: $59 per month for up to 1,000 contacts
- Ecommerce Marketing: $119 per month for up to 1,000 contacts
- GetResponse MAX: $1,099 per month with custom solutions
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Brevo
Brevo, formerly known as Sendinblue, is a solid contender for email platforms with the best SMS marketing capabilities. Its email campaign tools are easy to use, featuring a drag-and-drop editor, ready-made templates, and basic automation.Brevo’s SMS marketing is also straightforward, letting you schedule and send personalized text messages. It even supports transactional messages, making it a well-rounded platform for reaching customers via both channels.
However, Brevo does have some limitations. Its free plan, while a great starting point, has a daily sending limit of only 300 emails, which can feel restrictive for growing businesses. Moreover, its more advanced features, like marketing automation and advanced statistics, are only available on the higher-tier plans.
Key Features:
- Email and SMS marketing campaigns
- Web and mobile push notifications
- Sign up forms
- Integration with other tools
Pricing:
- Free: $0 per month for up to 300 emails per day
- Starter: $9 per month for up to 5,000 emails
- Business: $18 per month for up to 5,000 emails
- Enterprise: Custom Pricing with unlimited contacts
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Campaign Monitor
Campaign Monitor is one of the most reliable email marketing tools for businesses of all sizes. It offers a drag-and-drop builder with customizable templates that help you effortlessly create mobile-optimized emails.With its automation feature, you can manage everything from welcome emails to drip campaigns. At the same time, SMS marketing adds an extra layer of reach so you can engage your audience directly on their phones.
The platform’s analytics tools are also robust, offering real-time insights into your campaigns, which allows you to fine-tune your strategies as needed.
However, you have to contact the support team to access the SMS features. Plus, it’s free plan is very limited. You can only send your campaign to five people, making it less accessible for smaller businesses on a budget.
Key Features:
- Email and SMS marketing campaigns
- Email template builder
- Transactional emails
- Segmentation and personalization
Pricing:
- Lite: $44 per month for up to 1,000 contacts
- Essentials: $69 per month for up to 1,000 contacts
- Premier: $169 per month for up to 1,000 contacts
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Selzy
Selzy is an affordable email marketing platform designed for small to medium businesses looking to scale their email campaigns with ease. With support for up to 50,000 contacts and unlimited email sending, Selzy provides excellent value, especially for companies aiming to send high volumes of emails on a budget.The platform features a drag-and-drop email editor and various automation options, such as drip campaigns and transactional emails, allowing users to streamline communication with customers. Selzy’s pricing is notably lower than many competitors, making it accessible for businesses that want robust features without a steep cost.
Selzy comes with several helpful features; however, it does have some drawbacks. The interface is not available in many languages, which could limit accessibility for non-English speakers. Additionally, there are fewer integration options compared to other platforms, and the customization features for sign-up forms are somewhat restricted.
Key Features:
- Unlimited Email Sending: Send as many emails as needed without restrictions.
- High Contact Capacity: Manage lists of up to 50,000 contacts on the Lite plan and up to 500,000 contacts on the Standard plan.
- Email Automation: Includes features like drip campaigns and transactional emails for personalized messaging.
- Deliverability Boost: The Standard plan offers enhancements for better email deliverability.
- Drag-and-Drop Editor: Easily create email campaigns with a user-friendly email editor.
- Segmentation and Personalization: Target specific customer groups for improved engagement.
Pricing:
- Free: $0 per month, supports up to 100 contacts and 1,500 emails per month.
- Lite: $5.25 per month, or $63/year (discounted from $90), for up to 50,000 contacts and unlimited emails.
- Standard: $7 per month, or $84/year (discounted from $120), for up to 500,000 contacts, unlimited emails, and additional deliverability features.
- Full Service: From $100, offering tailored email marketing solutions based on specific business needs.
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Clerk Chat
Clerk Chat unifies SMS, MMS, and WhatsApp messaging within a single, powerful platform. No more juggling different apps or struggling to keep track of conversations – Clerk Chat brings all your customer interactions into one central hub, allowing for faster response times, more efficient support, and stronger customer relationships.What truly sets Clerk Chat apart is its seamless integration with existing business workflows. Imagine texting with customers directly through your Webex, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams number – Clerk Chat makes it possible! This level of integration streamlines communication, enhances collaboration, and empowers your team to provide exceptional customer experiences.
Clerk Chat is packed with features designed to optimize your communication strategy, including AI agents, CRM integrations, and robust compliance tools. Whether you’re looking to personalize individual messages, launch targeted campaigns, or automate responses to common queries, Clerk Chat provides the flexibility and control to elevate your communication efforts.Key Features:
- Options for individual or shared phone numbers
- Existing phone number integration
- AI agents and flows
- Connect with popular CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot
- Built-in 10DLC features and opt-in/opt-out management
- Launch and manage SMS campaigns with ease
- Export conversation logs for record-keeping and analysis
Pricing:
- Free: Learn the platform and explore the features
- Growth: $9.99 per month, great for small businesses, includes unlimited messages, 5000 contacts, and essential features
- Ultimate: $19.99 per month, great for power users, includes unlimited messages, campaigns, and additional features
Choose the Best Email and SMS Marketing Software for Your Business
Choosing the right SMS and email marketing platform can make a big difference in how you connect with your audience and grow your business.
Whether you’re looking for a platform that offers powerful automation, seamless omnichannel communication, or simple-to-use tools, there’s a solution out there for you. From Sender’s user-friendly interface and generous free plan to Klaviyo’s powerful customer data platform, each option offers something unique.
Take time to assess your business needs and budget and consider the platforms that align with your goals. That way, you can create an effective marketing strategy that skyrockets your engagement and sales.