Updated 2026-02-01

Best Email Marketing Tools for Online Businesses

Convert visitors into customers and maximize lifetime value with the right email marketing platform.

For online businesses, email is the revenue engine. It converts website visitors who would otherwise leave and never return. It nurtures leads through your sales process. It retains customers and drives repeat purchases. It launches new products to warm audiences who are ready to buy. Unlike social media or paid ads, your email list is an asset you own. No algorithm changes, no rising ad costs. I tested and reviewed 13 email marketing tools specifically for online business use cases, ranking them on automation power, conversion features, pricing, and scalability.

Why Online Businesses Need Email Marketing

Visitor Recovery

97% of website visitors leave without taking action. Email capture with lead magnets converts a portion of those visitors into subscribers you can nurture over time. Without email, that traffic is wasted.

Sales Funnel Automation

Online businesses live and die by their funnels. Email sequences guide prospects from awareness to purchase on autopilot. Welcome series, nurture sequences, and sales campaigns work around the clock without manual intervention.

Customer Lifetime Value

The first sale is rarely where the profit is. Post-purchase emails, cross-sells, upsells, and loyalty campaigns increase how much each customer spends over their lifetime. Email is the most effective channel for driving repeat revenue.

Product Launches

Launching to a warm email list generates predictable revenue. A launch sequence with anticipation building, early access, and countdown emails consistently outperforms cold advertising.

13 Best Email Marketing Tools for Online Businesses

Our Top Pick for Online Businesses
#1
Sequenzy

AI-powered email marketing with smart automation sequences and pay-per-email pricing.

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Best for
Online businesses wanting AI-powered funnels with scalable pricing
Pricing
$29/month for 50,000 emails

Pros

  • AI generates complete sales sequences and funnels
  • Pay-per-email keeps costs predictable at scale
  • Native Stripe integration for payment automation
  • Direct founder support when you need help

Cons

  • Newer platform with a growing feature set
  • No built-in SMS marketing
  • Smaller template library compared to established platforms
  • No built-in landing page builder
#2
ActiveCampaign

Advanced automation and CRM platform with powerful workflow builder.

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Best for
Online businesses with complex funnels and sophisticated automation needs
Pricing
$29/month for 1,000 contacts

Pros

  • Most powerful automation builder
  • Built-in CRM and lead scoring
  • Conditional logic and split testing
  • Excellent deliverability

Cons

  • Steep learning curve
  • Expensive as contacts grow
  • No free tier
  • Can be overwhelming
#3
Kit

Creator-focused email platform with generous free tier, formerly ConvertKit.

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Best for
Content-driven online businesses selling digital products
Pricing
Free up to 10,000 subscribers, then from $25/month

Pros

  • Generous free tier
  • Built-in commerce for digital products
  • Landing pages and forms included
  • Tag-based organization

Cons

  • Limited email design options
  • Basic automation for complex funnels
  • No advanced segmentation
  • Reporting is basic
#4
Klaviyo

The leading e-commerce email and SMS platform with deep store integrations.

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Best for
Online stores with deep e-commerce integration needs
Pricing
Free up to 250 contacts, then from $20/month

Pros

  • Deep e-commerce integrations
  • Product recommendation engine
  • Revenue attribution on every email
  • Built-in SMS marketing

Cons

  • Gets expensive quickly
  • Complex interface
  • Overkill for non-e-commerce
  • SMS costs add up
#5
Drip

E-commerce focused email and automation built for online stores.

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Best for
Online stores wanting dedicated e-commerce email automation
Pricing
$39/month for 2,500 contacts

Pros

  • Built for e-commerce
  • Visual workflow builder
  • Revenue attribution
  • Good store integrations

Cons

  • No free tier
  • Higher starting price
  • Fewer integrations than Klaviyo
  • Limited SMS
#6
Mailchimp

The most recognized email marketing platform with a generous free tier.

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Best for
Early-stage online businesses wanting quick, easy setup
Pricing
Free up to 500 contacts, then from $13/month

Pros

  • Free tier to start
  • Massive template library
  • Wide integration ecosystem
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Steep pricing at scale
  • Basic automation
  • Limited advanced features
  • Declining support quality
#7
Brevo

Affordable email and SMS marketing platform with transactional email included.

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Best for
Budget-conscious online businesses needing email, SMS, and transactional
Pricing
Free up to 300 emails/day, then from $25/month

Pros

  • All-in-one platform
  • Pay by emails, not contacts
  • SMS included
  • Free CRM

Cons

  • Basic automation
  • Daily sending limits
  • Less polished interface
  • Brevo branding on free emails
#8
GetResponse

All-in-one marketing platform with email, landing pages, and webinars.

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Best for
Online businesses using webinars and landing pages for sales
Pricing
From $15.60/month for 1,000 contacts

Pros

  • Webinars included
  • Landing pages and funnels
  • All-in-one platform
  • Competitive pricing

Cons

  • Nothing is best-in-class
  • Interface can feel cluttered
  • Basic webinar features
  • Average automation
#9
Omnisend

E-commerce marketing platform combining email, SMS, and push notifications.

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Best for
Online retail businesses wanting email, SMS, and push combined
Pricing
Free up to 250 contacts, then from $16/month

Pros

  • Multi-channel marketing
  • Pre-built e-commerce automation
  • Product picker
  • Competitive pricing

Cons

  • E-commerce only focus
  • Limited free tier
  • Less powerful segmentation
  • Fewer third-party integrations
#10
MailerLite

Clean, simple email marketing with generous free tier and good automation.

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Best for
Online businesses prioritizing simplicity and affordability
Pricing
Free up to 1,000 subscribers, then from $10/month

Pros

  • Clean interface
  • Generous free tier
  • Landing pages
  • Good value

Cons

  • Limited advanced features
  • Strict approval
  • Basic analytics
  • Fewer integrations
#11
Campaign Monitor

Professional email marketing with beautiful, polished templates.

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Best for
Brand-focused online businesses prioritizing email design quality
Pricing
From $9/month for 500 contacts

Pros

  • Beautiful templates
  • Professional quality
  • Reliable deliverability
  • Easy editor

Cons

  • Limited automation
  • Contact-based pricing
  • No free tier
  • Basic features
#12
Moosend

Budget-friendly email marketing with decent automation features.

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Best for
Very price-conscious online businesses
Pricing
From $9/month for 500 subscribers

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Decent automation
  • Product recommendations
  • Landing pages

Cons

  • Less well-known
  • Limited integrations
  • Smaller template library
  • Basic support
#13
AWeber

One of the original email platforms with reliable deliverability.

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Best for
Online businesses wanting basic, reliable email with phone support
Pricing
Free up to 500 subscribers, then from $15/month

Pros

  • Reliable deliverability
  • Phone support
  • Free tier
  • Simple setup

Cons

  • Dated interface
  • Limited automation
  • Basic features
  • Little innovation

Feature Comparison

FeatureSequenzyActiveCampaignKitKlaviyo
Sales funnel automation
Yes
Advanced
Basic
Advanced
AI-powered sequences
Yes
No
No
No
Landing page builder
No
Yes
Yes
No
E-commerce integration
Via Stripe
Yes
Digital only
Deep
Revenue attribution
Yes
Yes
Basic
Advanced
Pay-per-email pricing
Yes
No
No
No
Free tier available
No
No
Yes
Yes
SMS marketing
No
Yes
No
Yes

Email Sequences Every Online Businesse Needs

These are the essential automated email sequences that will help you grow your business and keep clients coming back.

Lead Nurture Funnel

Trigger: New subscriber from lead magnet

Convert new leads into paying customers with a value-driven nurture sequence.

Immediately
Here is your {{lead_magnet}} — welcome aboard

Deliver the lead magnet. Introduce yourself and your business briefly. Set expectations for what comes next.

Day 2
The biggest mistake {{audience}} make with {{topic}}

Educational content that addresses a common pain point. Demonstrate expertise and build trust.

Day 4
How {{customer_name}} achieved {{result}} in {{timeframe}}

Case study or success story. Social proof that shows your product or service delivers real results.

Day 6
Ready to {{desired_outcome}}? Here is how

Introduce your paid offering. Clear benefits, pricing, and a strong CTA. Include a time-limited bonus or discount.

Post-Purchase Retention

Trigger: First purchase completed

Maximize customer lifetime value through follow-up, education, and cross-selling.

Immediately
You are in — here is what happens next

Purchase confirmation with getting started instructions. Make them feel confident in their decision.

Day 3
Quick tips to get the most from {{product_name}}

Usage tips and best practices. Help them succeed with their purchase to build satisfaction.

Day 7
How is {{product_name}} working for you?

Check-in asking for feedback. Include link to leave a review. Offer support if needed.

Day 14
You might also like {{related_product}}

Cross-sell recommendation based on their purchase. Personalized suggestion that adds value.

Cart Abandonment

Trigger: Cart abandoned without purchase

Recover lost revenue from visitors who added items but did not complete checkout.

1 hour
You left something behind

Remind them of what is in their cart with product images. Direct link back to checkout. No discount yet.

24 hours
Still thinking about it? Here is 10% off

Add a small incentive. Include customer reviews as social proof. Create gentle urgency.

48 hours
Last chance for your 10% off — expires tonight

Final reminder with urgency. If they do not convert, move on.

Win-Back Campaign

Trigger: No purchase in 90 days

Re-engage lapsed customers and bring them back for another purchase.

90 days
We miss you — here is what is new

Showcase new products, features, or content since their last visit. Remind them why they bought from you.

105 days
A special deal just for you — 15% off

Incentive to come back. Personalized based on their previous purchase history.

120 days
Last chance for 15% off — expires this week

Final win-back attempt. After this, reduce email frequency to avoid unsubscribes.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Online Business

The best email marketing tool depends on what kind of online business you run and how complex your needs are.

If you sell physical products online, Klaviyo and Drip have the deepest e-commerce integrations. They sync with your store, track purchase behavior, and automate cart recovery and product recommendations.

If you sell digital products, Kit and Sequenzy are better choices. Kit handles digital product sales directly. Sequenzy's AI creates the sales sequences that convert free subscribers into paying customers.

If you have complex funnels, ActiveCampaign gives you the most control with its advanced automation builder, CRM, and lead scoring. The learning curve is worth it for businesses with sophisticated sales processes.

The Online Business Email Revenue Formula

Three automations generate the most revenue for online businesses:

Lead capture and nurture converts traffic into revenue. Most visitors will not buy on their first visit. A lead magnet captures their email, and a nurture sequence builds enough trust and desire to convert them into customers.

Post-purchase retention maximizes lifetime value. Follow-up emails with usage tips, cross-sells, and loyalty offers turn one-time buyers into repeat customers. The second purchase is where profit starts.

Win-back campaigns recover lost revenue. Customers who have not purchased in 90 days get a targeted sequence with new offerings and an incentive. This costs a fraction of acquiring new customers.

Getting Started

Start with these steps regardless of which platform you choose:

  1. Set up lead capture with a valuable lead magnet and opt-in forms across your website
  2. Build a nurture sequence that converts new subscribers into first-time buyers
  3. Create post-purchase automation to maximize customer lifetime value
  4. Add cart abandonment recovery if you sell products with a checkout process
  5. Segment your list by purchase history and engagement to send relevant content

The online businesses that win at email marketing are the ones that build systems. Set up the right automations, measure results, and optimize over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to grow your online businesse practice?

Start your free trial today. Set up your first email sequence in minutes with AI-powered content generation.

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses subscriber-based pricing. You only pay for subscribers active in sequences (automations). Inactive subscribers are free to store.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 0-100 subscribers: Free (Free annually) - 3k emails/month
  • 101-1,000 subscribers: $19/month ($205/year annually) - 15k emails/month
  • 1,001-5,000 subscribers: $29/month ($313/year annually) - 60k emails/month
  • 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $49/month ($529/year annually) - 120k emails/month
  • 10,001-25,000 subscribers: $99/month ($1069/year annually) - 300k emails/month
  • 25,001-50,000 subscribers: $199/month ($2149/year annually) - 600k emails/month
  • 50,001-100,000 subscribers: $349/month ($3769/year annually) - 1.2M emails/month
  • 100,000+ subscribers: Custom pricing (Custom annually) - Unlimited emails/month

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (2,500 emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (1,000 - 100,000 subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (100,000+ subscribers)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for subscribers who are active in automations/sequences
  • Storing inactive subscribers is free
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com