Starting from a blank canvas is overrated. Professional email templates give you structure, design direction, and cross-client compatible code that would take hours to build yourself. The right template turns email creation from a design project into a customization task.

This guide covers the email builders with the best template libraries: quantity, quality, variety, and how well they customize for your specific needs.

For a complete overview of all email builders, see my comprehensive guide. If you're working on a budget, my guide to free HTML email builders covers options with usable free template access.

What Makes a Good Template Library

Not all template libraries are created equal:

Quantity matters, but quality matters more. 100 well-designed templates beat 1,000 mediocre ones. Look for templates that look professional and contemporary.

Variety across industries and use cases. You need templates for newsletters, promotions, announcements, transactional emails, and more. Industry-specific templates (e-commerce, SaaS, hospitality) are valuable.

Customization flexibility. Great templates are starting points, not prisons. You should be able to modify structure, not just colors and text.

Cross-client compatibility. Templates should render correctly across Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, and mobile clients. This is table stakes but worth verifying.

Email Builders with the Best Templates

1. Stripo - Largest Template Library

Price: Free tier (4 exports/month), paid from $15/month

Stripo leads the market with 1,500+ templates across every category imaginable. Whatever email you need to build, there's probably a template close to your requirements.

Industry coverage is extensive. E-commerce, SaaS, healthcare, hospitality, education, nonprofits, and more have dedicated template collections. This specificity means templates match real use cases rather than generic designs.

Campaign types are well-covered. Newsletters, promotions, product launches, welcome emails, event invitations, and transactional templates are all available. Holiday and seasonal templates update regularly.

Quality is consistent. Unlike some libraries that pad numbers with mediocre designs, Stripo's templates are generally professional. They follow email design best practices and customize well.

The free tier allows 4 exports per month, which is enough to evaluate templates thoroughly. Paid plans unlock unlimited exports.

Best for: Anyone who relies on templates as starting points

Limitations: So many templates can be overwhelming; use search/filters

2. Bee Free - Quality Over Quantity

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

Bee Free's template library is smaller than Stripo's but highly curated. The templates are contemporary, well-designed, and work reliably across email clients.

Design quality is Bee Free's strength. Templates look like they were designed recently by professionals who understand modern aesthetics. You won't find dated designs cluttering the library.

Customization is excellent. Templates are built from modular blocks that you can rearrange, remove, or add to freely. You're not constrained by the original structure.

Mobile-first designs work well on phones. Given that most emails are opened on mobile devices, this focus is appropriate.

The free tier gives you access to templates with "Built with BEE" branding in exported emails. Paid plans remove branding and add more templates.

Best for: Users who value design quality over volume

Limitations: Smaller library than Stripo

3. Mailchimp - Best Integrated Templates

Price: Free up to 500 contacts, paid from $13/month

Mailchimp's template library is built into their email marketing platform. If you're using Mailchimp anyway, the templates are convenient and integrated.

Template variety covers standard needs well. Newsletters, promotions, announcements, and basic transactional templates are available. Industry-specific options exist but aren't as extensive as Stripo's.

Integration benefits matter. Templates pull from your Content Studio (stored assets), maintain brand consistency automatically, and work seamlessly with Mailchimp's automation and analytics.

Easy customization through a familiar drag-and-drop interface. Templates are starting points that you can modify extensively.

The catch is platform lock-in. Mailchimp templates work with Mailchimp. If you're considering other ESPs, standalone builders offer more flexibility.

Best for: Mailchimp users wanting integrated template access

Limitations: Locked to Mailchimp platform

4. Postcards - Best Designed Templates

Price: Free tier, paid from $17/month

Postcards by Designmodo offers templates with exceptional design quality. If you care about visual sophistication, Postcards templates stand out.

Design standards are high. Templates feel like they were designed for design-aware audiences. Typography, spacing, color, and composition are carefully considered.

Modular system provides 100+ blocks rather than complete templates. You build emails by combining blocks, which offers more flexibility than fixed templates.

Customization depth exceeds most builders. You can adjust every visual property to achieve your exact vision.

The template approach (blocks rather than complete designs) requires more assembly than other options. For users who want more control, this is a feature. For those who want quick starts, complete templates are faster.

Best for: Design-focused users who want premium aesthetics

Limitations: Block-based system requires more assembly

5. Chamaileon - Best for Professional Services

Price: From $20/month

Chamaileon's template library focuses on professional, business-appropriate designs. If you're building emails for B2B companies, professional services, or corporate communications, the aesthetic fits.

Business focus shows in the designs. Clean, professional layouts suitable for serious business communication. Less flashy than consumer-focused templates.

Modular library lets you save your own components. Build a set of branded blocks once, then combine them into templates. This approach supports brand consistency across campaigns.

Collaboration features mean templates are shared across teams. Everyone accesses the same starting points, maintaining consistency.

Best for: Professional services and B2B communications

Limitations: Less variety for consumer-focused emails

6. Sequenzy - Best SaaS Templates

Price: Free tier, paid from $19/month

Sequenzy's templates are specifically designed for SaaS and software companies. If you're building emails for a tech product, the templates match common use cases.

SaaS-specific designs cover onboarding sequences, feature announcements, upgrade prompts, dunning emails, and more. These templates understand software business needs.

Automation integration means templates connect to sequences. Choose a template, customize it, and connect it to your automation workflow in one tool.

AI enhancement can generate content to fill template structures. Describe your email's goal, and the AI drafts content that you can refine.

The library is smaller than Stripo's but focused. Quality over quantity for the SaaS niche.

Best for: SaaS companies and software businesses

Limitations: Smaller library, focused on SaaS use cases

Comparison Table

Builder	Template Count	Best For	Free Access
Stripo	1,500+	Maximum variety	Yes (4 exports/mo)
Bee Free	500+	Design quality	Yes (with branding)
Mailchimp	100+	Mailchimp users	Yes
Postcards	100+ blocks	Design control	Yes
Chamaileon	200+	B2B/Professional	No
Sequenzy	50+	SaaS companies	Yes

Getting the Most from Templates

Don't Use Templates As-Is

Templates are starting points, not finished products. Always customize:

Add your branding - colors, fonts, logo
Rewrite the copy - generic placeholder text doesn't convert
Adjust the structure - modify sections for your specific content
Check mobile rendering - verify the mobile experience

Build Your Own Template Library

Save your customized templates for reuse. Build a personal library of templates tailored to your needs:

Newsletter template for regular sends
Promotional template for sales and offers
Announcement template for updates and news
Welcome template for new subscribers

Choose Templates That Match Your Content

A template designed for long-form newsletters won't work well for flash sale promotions. Start with templates designed for your use case rather than forcing your content into mismatched structures.

Test Your Customized Templates

Template libraries are tested, but your customizations might introduce issues. Test your modified templates across email clients before sending to your full list.

Best HTML Email Builders with Templates in 2026