Constant Contact Alternatives: 10 Competitors for Small Businesses

Constant Contact has been a trusted name in email marketing for years. However, many businesses are now looking for alternatives due to issues such as high costs, limited automation, and a lack of modern features. This blog explores the top 10 alternatives to Constant Contact, offering better pricing, features, and flexibility. Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise, there are more efficient options available for marketing success.

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Why Consider Constant Contact Alternatives?

Constant Contact may be popular, but it’s not without its challenges. Here are some key reasons why businesses might seek alternatives:

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High Pricing

Constant Contact’s pricing plans can escalate quickly as your contact list grows. For small businesses or startups with tight budgets, these tiered plans may not be sustainable, especially when more affordable options with similar or better features exist.

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Limited Automation

In today’s marketing world, automation is key for efficiency and scalability. Constant Contact’s automation features are basic, offering limited options for creating complex workflows or personalized campaigns.

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No Free Plan

Many platforms provide a free plan, allowing businesses to test the service and grow their subscriber list before committing to a paid plan. Constant Contact lacks this option, making it less accessible to businesses that want to start small.

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Basic Email Builder

Constant Contact’s email editor is serviceable but outdated. Many businesses today need more dynamic and intuitive tools to design campaigns that stand out and engage their audience.

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Deliverability Issues

Compared to other email marketing platforms, Constant Contact has been reported to struggle with email deliverability, meaning your emails might end up in spam folders, reducing the effectiveness of your campaigns.

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Comparison Table of Constant Contact Alternatives

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10 Best Constant Contact Competitors for Small Businesses

Here’s a closer look at the top alternatives to Constant Contact, highlighting their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision:

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1. Dripcel (Best for AI-powered SMS Marketing)

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Dripcel is a next-generation SMS marketing platform designed to optimize every aspect of your campaigns using advanced AI technology. Unlike Constant Contact, which primarily focuses on email, Dripcel leverages machine learning to provide businesses with the tools needed to drive engagement through SMS. Dripcel’s AI engine continuously refines messaging, identifying the best send times, days, and customer segments to maximize conversions. With real-time A/B testing and dynamic copy adaptation, you can ensure your campaigns are always improving.

Pros:

• AI-powered campaign optimization for personalized SMS messages.
• A/B testing to refine SMS copy in real time.
• Unlimited recipients for large campaigns without extra charges.
• Predictive analytics to identify customer behavior and optimize targeting.
• Pay-per-send pricing

Cons:

• Focuses only on SMS marketing, no email marketing features.

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2. HubSpot (Best for CRM Integration)

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HubSpot is a powerful marketing platform known for its free CRM and extensive integration with email marketing and sales automation tools. It’s a great option for businesses that want to combine their marketing efforts with customer relationship management in one platform. HubSpot’s CRM is completely free, unlike Constant Contact, and its marketing features are built to scale with your business. However, HubSpot can get expensive as your needs grow, especially if you need access to advanced marketing tools.

Pros:

• Free CRM with email and marketing automation integration.
• Extensive analytics and reporting tools.
• Great for inbound marketing strategies.

Cons:

• Can become costly as you add more features.
• Some tools, like advanced automation, are only available on higher-tier plans.

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3. AWeber (Best for Newsletter Marketing)

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AWeber is a long-standing name in the email marketing world, well-known for its extensive library of newsletter templates and simple user interface. It offers everything you need to run an effective newsletter campaign, including AMP emails for dynamic content and a powerful drag-and-drop email editor. While Constant Contact offers similar features, AWeber stands out for its ease of use and customer support, making it ideal for beginners or those running regular newsletter campaigns.

Pros:

• Large selection of customizable email templates.
• Supports AMP emails, which allows for more interactive content.
• Excellent customer support with 24/7 live chat and phone support.

Cons:

• Basic automation features compared to more advanced platforms.
• Interface can feel outdated.

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4. Brevo – Formerly Sendinblue (Best for Multichannel Marketing)

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Brevo stands out for its multichannel marketing capabilities, combining email, SMS, chat, and even WhatsApp in one platform. It’s a cost-effective option for businesses looking to reach customers through multiple channels without paying extra for subscriber numbers. Unlike Constant Contact, which charges based on your contact list size, Brevo bases its pricing on the number of emails sent. This can be a huge advantage for businesses with large contact lists that send fewer campaigns.

Pros:

• Unlimited contacts, even on the free plan.
• Multichannel marketing options including SMS, email, and chat.
• Affordable pricing that is based on the number of emails sent rather than contact list size.

Cons:

• Some advanced features, like detailed reporting, are only available on higher-priced plans.
• The free plan limits the number of emails you can send daily.

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5. Campaign Monitor (Best for Customizable Email Designs)

Campaign Monitor is an email marketing platform that prioritizes beautifully designed, customized emails. It offers a simple drag-and-drop builder, powerful segmentation tools, and detailed analytics. Compared to Constant Contact, Campaign Monitor provides better design tools and more sophisticated segmentation options, allowing users to target their audience more effectively. However, its automation capabilities are somewhat limited, which may not suit businesses looking for complex workflows.

Pros:

• Focus on beautifully designed and personalized emails.
• Advanced segmentation tools for targeted marketing.
• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.

Cons:

• Limited automation features compared to competitors.
• More expensive for higher email volumes.

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6. Mailchimp (Best for All-in-One Marketing)

Mailchimp is one of the most popular email marketing platforms and is widely recognized for its user-friendly design and broad feature set. It provides everything from email marketing and landing page creation to CRM tools and social media integration. Compared to Constant Contact, Mailchimp offers a more comprehensive free plan and better automation features, making it ideal for small businesses and startups. However, Mailchimp’s pricing can rise quickly as your subscriber list grows, and it charges based on all subscribers, including inactive ones.

Pros:

• Free plan for up to 500 subscribers, with full access to key features like automation and landing pages.
• Intuitive drag-and-drop email builder with a vast selection of templates.
• Includes CRM, social media management, and marketing automation in one platform.

Cons:

• Pricing increases significantly with inactive or unsubscribed users counted towards your total.
• Limited customer support, especially on the free plan.

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7. GetResponse (Best for B2C Marketers)

GetResponse is a comprehensive marketing platform that offers more than just email marketing—it includes conversion funnels, webinars, and even live chat integration. This makes it ideal for B2C businesses looking to build a full marketing funnel. Compared to Constant Contact, GetResponse offers far more tools for personalizing the customer experience, and its AI-powered recommendation engine helps drive conversions. However, some advanced features, like full automation, are only available on higher-priced plans.

Pros:

• Includes conversion funnel builder, webinar hosting, and live chat.
• AI-powered product recommendations for personalized campaigns.
• Free plan for up to 500 subscribers.

Cons:

• Advanced automation features are locked behind higher-tier plans.
• Interface can be complicated for new users.

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8. ConvertKit (Best for Creators and Nonprofits)

ConvertKit is an email marketing platform built specifically for creators, bloggers, and nonprofits who need a simple, no-nonsense way to engage their audience. Its strength lies in easy-to-build automation workflows and a focus on growing and nurturing subscriber lists. Unlike Constant Contact, ConvertKit provides opt-in forms and landing pages tailored to help creators build their audience. However, ConvertKit lacks some advanced reporting and analytics features that larger businesses might need.

Pros:

• Designed for creators and nonprofits with simple automation workflows.
• Easy-to-use landing page and opt-in form builder.
• Free plan available for up to 300 subscribers.

Cons:

• Limited advanced reporting and analytics.
• Lacks some robust features required for larger businesses.

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9. ActiveCampaign (Best for Advanced Automation)

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ActiveCampaign excels in marketing automation and CRM integration, making it a fantastic option for businesses that want to automate complex sales and marketing workflows. It allows for detailed customer journeys, tagging, and segmentation, which help businesses send personalized messages based on customer actions. This level of automation is far beyond what Constant Contact offers. ActiveCampaign also integrates well with CRM systems, enabling businesses to manage both marketing and sales efforts on one platform.

Pros:

• Comprehensive automation workflows for email marketing, sales funnels, and lead nurturing.
• Robust CRM integration to streamline sales and marketing.
• Excellent customer segmentation and personalization tools.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve due to its complex features.
• More expensive than other alternatives, particularly as features scale.

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10. SendPulse (Best for Small Businesses on a Budget)

SendPulse is a multichannel marketing platform that offers email, SMS, and push notifications. It’s an affordable option for small businesses, with a free plan that includes up to 500 subscribers and 15,000 emails per month. SendPulse is ideal for businesses looking for a simple, low-cost solution that includes multiple communication channels. Unlike Constant Contact, which charges for contacts, SendPulse offers flexibility in pricing based on email sends, making it much more budget-friendly.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing with a free plan for small businesses.
• Offers multiple marketing channels, including SMS and push notifications.
• Easy-to-use platform with minimal setup.

Cons:

• Basic automation and reporting features.
• Limited support on the free plan.

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Why Dripcel is the Best Constant Contact Alternative

While many platforms offer solid alternatives to Constant Contact, Dripcel stands out for its AI-powered SMS marketing capabilities. Dripcel’s machine learning engine continuously improves your campaigns, identifying the best times and messaging to drive engagement. For businesses that prioritize SMS marketing, Dripcel provides advanced features such as real-time A/B testing, predictive analytics, and dynamic copy adaptation—all at an affordable price. Unlike other platforms that focus mainly on email, Dripcel specializes in SMS, making it the ideal choice for businesses that want to maximize their text message marketing efforts.

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Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Constant Contact Alternative

When selecting the right Constant Contact alternative, it’s important to consider your business’s unique needs. If you require advanced email automation or CRM integration, platforms like ActiveCampaign or HubSpot may be the best choice. For businesses focused on SMS marketing and AI-driven optimization, Dripcel offers unparalleled features at an affordable price.