Back to Blog

Best HTML Email Builders for Agencies in 2026

12 min read

Agency email work has unique demands. You're managing multiple clients with different brands, coordinating between account managers and designers, handling client approvals, and doing it all at scale. Consumer email builders aren't built for this workflow.

This guide covers email builders that understand agency operations: multi-client management, collaboration features, client-facing previews, and pricing that scales with your business.

For general recommendations, see my complete guide to HTML email builders. If you're focused on design quality, check out my guide to HTML email builders for designers.

What Agencies Need

Agency email building requirements go beyond individual use:

Multi-client management with separated workspaces, brand assets, and team permissions. Client A's assets shouldn't mix with Client B's.

Collaboration workflows that support account managers, copywriters, designers, and clients working together on the same emails.

Client approval features that let clients review and comment without needing their own accounts or understanding the builder.

Consistent quality across team members with varying skills. Templates and brand guidelines need enforcement.

Scalable pricing that grows with your client roster rather than punishing success.

Top Email Builders for Agencies

1. Chamaileon - Best Overall for Agencies

Price: From $20/month, team pricing available

Chamaileon was built with agencies in mind. The collaboration features are genuinely useful rather than bolted-on afterthoughts.

Workspace organization lets you separate each client into their own space. Brand colors, fonts, images, and templates are isolated. Team members can be assigned to specific clients, maintaining clear boundaries.

Real-time collaboration means designers and copywriters can work simultaneously. Changes appear instantly for everyone. The commenting system works well for asynchronous feedback, with threads that track design evolution.

Client review links are particularly valuable. Generate a preview link for your client, and they can view the email and leave comments directly on the design. No account needed, no confusing interface. Clients see what they'll approve and can provide specific feedback.

The builder itself is powerful. You get precise control over layout, spacing, typography, and responsive behavior. Export works to major ESPs or as clean HTML.

Best for: Agencies with multiple clients and team members

Limitations: More expensive than single-user tools

2. Stripo - Best for Template-Heavy Agencies

Price: From $15/month individual, team plans available

Stripo's 1,500+ template library is valuable for agencies that need to work fast. Rather than designing from scratch for every client, you can find templates close to their needs and customize.

Team features include shared workspaces, role-based permissions, and template management. You can create master templates for each client that team members can use without accidentally breaking brand guidelines.

Module library lets you save reusable components. Build a client's header, footer, and common content blocks once, then reuse them across campaigns. Updates to modules propagate automatically.

Export flexibility supports most ESPs and includes options for different HTML formats. Whatever system your client uses, Stripo probably supports it.

The collaboration isn't as sophisticated as Chamaileon's real-time editing, but for many agencies, the template library and organization features are more valuable.

Best for: Agencies that rely on templates and need volume

Limitations: Real-time collaboration not as strong as Chamaileon

3. Bee Pro - Best for Scaling Agencies

Price: From $15/month, team pricing from $30/month

Bee Pro (Bee Free's paid tier) offers solid agency features at accessible pricing. For agencies building their email practice, it's a good starting point.

Team workspaces organize projects by client. You can set up brand guidelines including colors, fonts, and approved images that are available to anyone building emails for that client.

Role permissions control who can do what. Restrict some team members to using existing templates while allowing others to create new ones.

White-label option on higher tiers lets you present the builder as your own to clients. Some agencies value this for client-facing work.

The builder itself is fast and intuitive, which matters when training new team members. The learning curve is minimal compared to more complex tools.

Best for: Growing agencies that need team features without enterprise pricing

Limitations: Fewer advanced features than Chamaileon

4. Litmus Builder - Best for Quality-Focused Agencies

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

Litmus Builder comes bundled with the industry-leading email testing platform. For agencies where quality assurance is paramount, this combination is powerful.

Preview across 90+ email clients instantly. You can show clients exactly how their email will render in Gmail, Outlook, iPhone, and everywhere else. This reduces revision cycles and builds client confidence.

Proof feature creates shareable previews with commenting. Clients can view the email in their specific email client and leave feedback without needing Litmus access.

Analytics integration shows post-send performance data. Agencies can demonstrate email effectiveness to clients with concrete metrics.

The builder itself is code-focused with live preview. It's not the most user-friendly for non-technical team members, but for agencies with email specialists, it works well.

Best for: Agencies where email quality and testing are selling points

Limitations: Higher price point, code-focused builder

5. Postcards - Best for Design-Focused Agencies

Price: From $17/month, team plans available

Postcards provides the most design control of any drag-and-drop builder. For agencies where visual quality differentiates their work, this matters.

Design precision with granular control over spacing, typography, and responsive behavior. Your designers can achieve their vision rather than compromising with builder limitations.

Template creation lets you build branded starting points for each client. These aren't just color swaps; you can create truly custom structures that maintain the client's design language.

Export quality is excellent. The HTML is clean and renders reliably across email clients.

The trade-off is complexity. Postcards has more options than simpler builders, which means more training for team members. For agencies with strong designers, this is fine. For agencies with varying skill levels, simpler tools might be more practical.

Best for: Design agencies and studios where visual quality is paramount

Limitations: Steeper learning curve, collaboration features less developed

Agency Workflow Considerations

Client Onboarding

Establish brand guidelines early. Document colors (exact hex values), fonts (including fallbacks), image styles, and tone of voice. The more you capture upfront, the fewer revisions later.

Create master templates for each client. Even if campaigns vary, headers, footers, and basic styles should be consistent. Having these ready accelerates all future work.

Team Coordination

Define clear roles. Who can create new templates? Who can edit existing ones? Who approves final versions? Builders with role-based permissions enforce these boundaries automatically.

Establish naming conventions. When you have 30 clients with 10 templates each, organization becomes critical. Consistent naming prevents confusion.

Client Approval

Use built-in preview and commenting features when available. They're faster than email attachments and screenshot feedback.

Set clear revision limits. Unlimited revisions kill profitability. Define what's included and what costs extra.

Quality Assurance

Test every email before client delivery. Cross-client rendering issues are your problem to catch, not the client's to discover.

Build testing into your process. Whether you use Litmus, Email on Acid, or manual testing, make it a mandatory step.

Pricing Models for Agency Use

Email builders typically offer:

Per-seat pricing - Pay for each team member. Works well for small teams but expensive as you grow.

Tiered plans - Different feature levels at different prices. Make sure the tier you need includes collaboration features.

Client-based pricing - Some enterprise plans price by number of clients or workspaces.

Usage-based pricing - Pay for exports or emails sent. Can be economical for lower volume.

Calculate your true cost by considering team size, client count, and monthly email volume. The "cheapest" plan often isn't the best value.

Building an Agency Email Practice

Start with Systems

Before taking on clients, establish your workflow. Which builder will you use? What's your testing process? How do clients provide feedback? Systems prevent chaos as you scale.

Document Everything

Create process documents for your team. New hires should be able to build client emails without constant supervision. Templates, guidelines, and checklists enable this.

Price for Profit

Email building takes longer than clients expect. Track your time on initial projects to understand true costs. Price accordingly.

Specialize if Possible

Agencies serving specific industries (e-commerce, SaaS, healthcare) can develop templates and expertise that accelerate work and justify premium pricing.

Related Guides