Building HTML emails that look great across every email client is harder than it sounds. Gmail renders things differently than Outlook, Apple Mail has its quirks, and that responsive design you spent hours on might break completely on Yahoo. That's where HTML email builders come in. They handle the messy cross-client compatibility so you can focus on writing emails that convert.

I've tested dozens of HTML email builders over the past few months, from simple drag-and-drop editors to powerful code-based tools. This guide covers the 15 best options available in 2026, with honest assessments of what each does well and where they fall short.

If you're looking for something more specific, I've also written focused guides on HTML email builders for marketers, for developers, for designers, and free options.

What Makes a Great HTML Email Builder?

Before diving into specific tools, here's what actually matters when choosing an email builder:

Cross-client compatibility is non-negotiable. Your email needs to render correctly in Gmail, Outlook (all versions), Apple Mail, Yahoo, and mobile clients. The best builders test against all major clients automatically.

Responsive design should work out of the box. Over 60% of emails are opened on mobile devices. If your builder makes mobile optimization difficult, that's a dealbreaker.

Export flexibility matters more than you'd think. You might need to export clean HTML, import into your ESP, or collaborate with others. Good builders support multiple export formats.

Speed and efficiency separate the good from the great. The best tools let you build professional emails in minutes, not hours.

The 15 Best HTML Email Builders

1. Sequenzy - Best for SaaS and Startups

Price: Free tier available, then from $19/month

Sequenzy combines an intuitive visual email builder with powerful automation features specifically designed for SaaS companies and startups. The drag-and-drop editor produces clean, responsive HTML that works across all major email clients.

What sets Sequenzy apart is the AI-powered content generation. You can describe what you want, and the AI creates complete email drafts with proper formatting. For busy founders and small teams, this saves hours of work. The native Stripe integration also means you can segment emails by customer revenue, plan tier, or payment status without any Zapier workarounds.

The builder includes pre-designed blocks for common elements like pricing tables, feature grids, and CTAs. Everything is mobile-responsive by default. You can also access the raw HTML if you need to make custom tweaks.

Best for: SaaS companies, startups, and teams that want a modern builder with smart automation

Limitations: Fewer templates than established players, no SMS integration

2. Stripo - Best Template Library

Price: Free tier, paid from $15/month

Stripo has become the go-to HTML email builder for teams that need lots of templates. The library includes 1,500+ professionally designed templates across every industry imaginable. Whether you need templates for newsletters, promotional emails, or transactional messages, Stripo probably has something close to what you want.

The editor itself is solid. You get a true drag-and-drop experience with blocks that snap into place. Advanced users can access the HTML/CSS directly, and Stripo handles the email client compatibility automatically. The collaboration features are particularly good for agencies managing multiple clients.

One standout feature is the "interactive email" support. You can add elements like carousels, accordions, and even checkout forms that work in supported email clients. When clients don't support these features, Stripo provides graceful fallbacks.

Best for: Teams needing extensive templates and agencies with multiple clients

Limitations: Advanced features require higher-tier plans

3. Bee Free - Best Free Option

Price: Free with BEE branding, paid from $15/month

Bee Free (formerly BEE) offers one of the most generous free tiers in the market. You can create unlimited emails with full access to the drag-and-drop builder, though free emails include BEE branding. The editor is fast, intuitive, and produces reliably cross-client compatible HTML.

I covered Bee Free in more detail in my guide to free HTML email builders, but the short version is this: if you're just getting started and don't want to pay anything, Bee Free is your best choice. The paid plans remove branding and add collaboration features.

The mobile preview feature deserves special mention. You can see exactly how your email will look on different devices as you build it, which prevents nasty surprises after you hit send.

Best for: Beginners and small businesses on a tight budget

Limitations: Free tier includes branding, limited templates without paid plan

4. Chamaileon - Best for Collaboration

Price: From $20/month

Chamaileon was built from the ground up for team collaboration. Multiple people can work on the same email simultaneously, with real-time changes visible to everyone. There's a commenting system, approval workflows, and version history that makes it easy to track changes.

For agencies managing multiple clients, Chamaileon's workspace organization is excellent. You can separate clients into different projects, each with their own brand assets, templates, and team permissions. The client feedback feature lets you share preview links with clients who can leave comments directly on the email.

The builder itself is powerful without being overwhelming. You get granular control over spacing, typography, and responsive behavior. The HTML export is clean and works reliably across email clients.

Best for: Agencies and teams with complex approval workflows

Limitations: More expensive than simpler tools, learning curve for advanced features

5. Postcards by Designmodo - Best for Designers

Price: Free tier, paid from $17/month

Postcards is the email builder designers actually want to use. The interface feels more like a modern design tool than a typical email editor. You get precise control over every visual element, with design-focused features like gradient support, custom fonts, and advanced image editing.

I wrote more about this in my guide to HTML email builders for designers. The quick summary: if you care deeply about visual quality and want your emails to look as good as your website, Postcards delivers.

The modular system works with 100+ pre-designed blocks that you can customize extensively. Unlike some builders that restrict you to their layouts, Postcards lets you create truly unique designs while still handling all the email client compatibility.

Best for: Design-focused teams and brands with strong visual identities

Limitations: Less focus on automation features, steeper learning curve

6. MJML - Best for Developers

Price: Free (open source)

MJML is a markup language that compiles to email-compatible HTML. Instead of visual editing, you write code in MJML's simplified syntax, and it generates the complex table-based HTML that email clients require. For developers who prefer code over drag-and-drop, MJML is the gold standard.

The syntax is surprisingly readable:

<mj-section>
  <mj-column>
    <mj-text>Hello world</mj-text>
    <mj-button href="https://example.com">Click me</mj-button>
  </mj-column>
</mj-section>

This compiles to hundreds of lines of nested tables and inline styles that work everywhere. MJML handles all the email client quirks automatically.

I covered MJML in detail in my guide to HTML email builders for developers. It integrates with build tools, works with version control, and produces consistently reliable output.

Best for: Developers and technical teams who want full control

Limitations: Requires coding knowledge, no visual editor (though community tools exist)

7. Unlayer - Best Embedded Builder

Price: From $12/month, enterprise pricing for embedded use

Unlayer started as an embeddable email builder for SaaS products, and it shows. The API and React component make it trivially easy to add an email builder to your own application. Many email marketing platforms actually use Unlayer under the hood.

The standalone builder is also excellent. Clean interface, solid template library, and reliable HTML output. The collaboration features work well for small teams, though they're not as extensive as Chamaileon's.

For small businesses that just want to build emails quickly, Unlayer's straightforward approach is refreshing. No unnecessary complexity, just a good builder that does what it promises.

Best for: SaaS products needing an embeddable builder, small teams wanting simplicity

Limitations: Advanced features require enterprise pricing

8. Litmus Builder - Best for Testing

Price: From $99/month (includes Litmus testing suite)

Litmus Builder comes as part of the Litmus email testing platform, which means you get the best email testing tools in the industry alongside a competent builder. You can preview your email in 90+ email clients and devices instantly, catching rendering issues before they reach your subscribers.

The builder itself is code-focused with a live preview. You edit HTML directly while seeing the results update in real-time. For teams that already use Litmus for testing, adding the builder makes sense. The integration between building and testing is seamless.

Best for: Teams that prioritize testing and quality assurance

Limitations: Expensive, builder is secondary to testing features

9. Topol.io - Best for Simplicity

Price: Free tier, paid from $7/month

Topol.io is refreshingly simple. No overwhelming feature lists, no complex workflows, just a clean drag-and-drop builder that works. You can create a professional email in minutes, export the HTML, and be done.

The price point is attractive too. At $7/month for the Pro plan, it's one of the most affordable paid options. You get unlimited exports, custom fonts, and the ability to save your own templates.

If you're looking for a drag-and-drop HTML email builder without unnecessary complexity, Topol.io is worth checking out.

Best for: Individuals and small teams wanting a simple, affordable solution

Limitations: Limited advanced features, smaller template library

10. Mailchimp Email Builder

Price: Free up to 500 contacts, paid from $13/month (full platform)

Mailchimp's built-in email builder is surprisingly capable. The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, the templates cover most use cases, and everything integrates seamlessly with Mailchimp's automation and analytics.

The catch is that you can't use the builder separately from Mailchimp's platform. If you're already using Mailchimp for email marketing, the builder is excellent. If you want to build emails for a different ESP, you'll need a standalone tool.

The Content Studio feature is particularly useful. You can store brand assets, images, and saved content blocks that anyone on your team can access. This keeps emails consistent without constant back-and-forth.

Best for: Teams already using Mailchimp

Limitations: Locked to Mailchimp platform, not available standalone

11. Dyspatch - Best for Dynamic Content

Price: Custom pricing

Dyspatch specializes in emails with dynamic, personalized content. You can create templates with conditional logic, dynamic blocks, and personalization that goes far beyond basic merge tags. For e-commerce companies sending product recommendations or personalized offers, this capability is valuable.

The builder uses a block-based approach with a focus on reusability. You create modules once and use them across multiple templates, with changes propagating automatically. This is great for large organizations maintaining dozens of email templates.

Best for: Enterprise teams with complex personalization needs

Limitations: Enterprise pricing, overkill for simple use cases

12. Parcel - Best for Code Editing

Price: Free tier, paid from $9/month

Parcel is a code editor specifically designed for emails. Unlike generic code editors, Parcel understands email HTML and provides syntax highlighting, autocomplete, and validation tailored to email development. The live preview updates instantly as you type.

The built-in image hosting is a nice touch. Upload images directly in Parcel, and they're automatically hosted and optimized. No need for a separate image hosting service.

For developers who prefer writing code but want email-specific tooling, Parcel fills a unique niche. It's not a visual builder, but it makes coding emails much more pleasant.

Best for: Developers who prefer code editors over visual builders

Limitations: No visual builder, requires HTML knowledge

13. Emailify for Figma

Price: From $7/month

Emailify turns Figma designs into production-ready HTML emails. If your design team already works in Figma, this workflow is incredibly efficient. Designers create the email in their familiar tool, then export it directly to HTML that actually works in email clients.

The plugin handles the translation from modern web design to email-compatible code. Flexbox layouts become tables, web fonts get fallbacks, and responsive behavior is added automatically. It's not perfect for every design, but for most standard layouts, the results are excellent.

Best for: Design teams already using Figma

Limitations: Requires Figma, complex designs may need manual adjustments

14. GrapesJS - Best Open Source

Price: Free (open source)

GrapesJS is a free, open-source web builder framework that includes email templates. You can use it directly, self-host it, or embed it in your own applications. For technical teams that want complete control and don't want vendor lock-in, GrapesJS is compelling.

The community has built plugins for various use cases, including email-specific templates and exports. The learning curve is steeper than commercial alternatives, but the flexibility is unmatched.

Best for: Technical teams wanting open-source flexibility

Limitations: Requires setup and configuration, less polished than commercial options

15. Campaign Monitor Email Builder

Price: From $12/month (includes Campaign Monitor platform)

Campaign Monitor includes a solid email builder as part of their email marketing platform. The builder emphasizes brand consistency, with tools to lock down colors, fonts, and layouts so team members can't accidentally break brand guidelines.

The "Sections" approach lets non-designers build emails from pre-approved components. Designers create the sections, and marketers assemble them into emails. This workflow works well for teams with clear roles.

Like Mailchimp, the builder is tied to the Campaign Monitor platform. It's great if you're using their service, but not available standalone.

Best for: Teams wanting brand control within an email platform

Limitations: Locked to Campaign Monitor, limited creative freedom for marketers

Comparison Table

Builder	Type	Starting Price	Best For
Sequenzy	Full platform	Free	SaaS, startups
Stripo	Standalone	Free	Templates, agencies
Bee Free	Standalone	Free	Budget-conscious
Chamaileon	Standalone	$20/mo	Collaboration
Postcards	Standalone	Free	Designers
MJML	Code-based	Free	Developers
Unlayer	Standalone/Embed	$12/mo	Simplicity, SaaS
Litmus Builder	Code + Testing	$99/mo	QA-focused teams
Topol.io	Standalone	Free	Simple needs
Mailchimp	Platform	$13/mo	Mailchimp users
Dyspatch	Enterprise	Custom	Dynamic content
Parcel	Code editor	Free	Code-focused devs
Emailify	Figma plugin	$7/mo	Design teams
GrapesJS	Open source	Free	Technical teams
Campaign Monitor	Platform	$12/mo	Brand control

How to Choose the Right Email Builder

The "best" builder depends entirely on your situation. Here's how to narrow down the options:

If you're a marketer who wants to build emails quickly without coding, look at Stripo, Bee Free, or Sequenzy. All three have intuitive visual editors and good template libraries. My guide to HTML email builders for marketers goes deeper on this.

If you're a developer who prefers code over visual editors, MJML and Parcel are your best options. MJML for its reliability and ecosystem, Parcel for its developer experience. See my developer-focused guide for more.

If you're a designer who wants precise visual control, Postcards and Emailify (for Figma users) stand out. Read my guide to HTML email builders for designers for detailed comparisons.

If you're on a tight budget, start with Bee Free, MJML, or GrapesJS. All three offer legitimate free tiers or are completely free. My free HTML email builders guide covers the best no-cost options.

If you're an agency managing multiple clients, Chamaileon and Stripo offer the collaboration features you need. See my guide to HTML email builders for agencies.

Email Building Best Practices

Whichever tool you choose, these practices will help you create better emails:

Start with mobile. Design for mobile first, then adjust for desktop. This ensures your emails work for the majority of readers.

Keep your HTML simple. Complex layouts break across email clients. Stick to single or two-column layouts for maximum compatibility.

Test before sending. Use Litmus, Email on Acid, or your ESP's preview tools to check rendering across clients. What looks perfect in your browser might be broken in Outlook.

Use system font stacks. Custom fonts don't work reliably in email. Specify web-safe fallbacks like Arial, Georgia, or system fonts.

Optimize images. Large images slow down loading and may not display at all on some clients. Compress images and use appropriate dimensions.

Wrapping Up

The HTML email builder market has matured significantly. Whether you want a simple drag-and-drop editor or full programmatic control, there's a tool that fits your workflow.

For most teams, I'd recommend starting with one of the free options to understand what features you actually need. Then, if you hit limitations, upgrade to a paid tool that addresses those specific gaps.

If you're building emails for a SaaS product, Sequenzy combines the visual builder with automation features specifically designed for software companies. The unified approach saves the hassle of connecting separate building and sending tools.

Whatever you choose, the key is consistency. Pick a builder, learn it well, and create a library of reusable templates. The time you invest upfront pays dividends with every email you send.

Related Guides

Looking for more specific recommendations? Check out these focused guides:

Also check out our industry-specific email marketing guides for dentists, lawyers, real estate agents, and more industries.