EmailOctopus

Overview

EmailOctopus is a budget-focused email marketing platform that strips email marketing down to its essential functions. Founded in London in 2014, the platform was built specifically around Amazon's email infrastructure , which allows it to offer significantly lower prices than competitors while maintaining reliable delivery. Over 89,000 organizations use EmailOctopus , drawn primarily to its combination of affordability and straightforward functionality rather than an extensive feature set.

The platform positions itself as an alternative for creators and small businesses who find traditional email marketing services too expensive or unnecessarily complex. EmailOctopus set out with a mission to provide email marketing that's simpler, more intuitive, and better value . By integrating directly with Amazon SES (Simple Email Service), EmailOctopus keeps operational costs low and passes those savings to users. This infrastructure choice means creators get enterprise-level email deliverability at startup-friendly prices.

EmailOctopus offers a forever free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 monthly emails , making it accessible for newsletter creators just starting out. The platform includes core features like a drag-and-drop email builder, automation sequences, landing pages, and analytics, but intentionally avoids the overwhelming feature lists that characterize larger competitors. For creators who value cost savings over advanced capabilities, this focused approach removes distractions and keeps the interface manageable.

Best For

EmailOctopus works best for budget-conscious newsletter creators, small businesses, and solo entrepreneurs who need reliable email delivery without premium features or pricing. This includes creators launching their first newsletter with limited budgets, bloggers building email lists on the side, nonprofit organizations that qualify for additional discounts, and anyone currently paying too much for basic email marketing functionality. The platform particularly suits creators who prioritize sending regular campaigns over complex segmentation, advanced automation, or sophisticated analytics.

Key Features

• Amazon SES Integration: The platform's integration with Amazon SES provides enterprise-level email infrastructure at startup prices, delivering better deliverability without premium costs . This integration with Amazon SES helps keep costs low while maintaining high deliverability rates , which matters for newsletter creators who need their emails to reach inboxes reliably without paying for dedicated IP addresses or expensive delivery optimization tools.

• Drag-and-Drop Email Builder: EmailOctopus provides a drag-and-drop email builder that simplifies campaign creation , allowing creators to design professional-looking newsletters without coding knowledge or design experience. The builder focuses on practical functionality rather than elaborate design options, which speeds up the process of creating and sending regular newsletters without sacrificing visual quality.

• Automated Email Sequences: The platform includes time-based email drip sequences that engage subscribers from the moment they join your list . These automation workflows handle welcome series, onboarding sequences, and follow-up campaigns automatically once configured. The system provides simple automation capabilities for welcome campaigns and drip email sequences , covering the most common automation needs without requiring complex workflow builders.

• Landing Pages and Forms: EmailOctopus lets you create landing pages and embedded sign-up forms directly within the platform , eliminating the need for separate landing page software. The platform includes customizable landing pages with five distinct templates , providing enough variety for basic list-building needs. For creators who need more sophisticated form options, the platform integrates with Zapier for additional flexibility.

• Transparent Analytics: The platform provides analytics including bounce tracking and complaint monitoring , giving creators visibility into delivery issues and subscriber engagement. While not as detailed as advanced analytics platforms, the reporting covers essential metrics like open rates, click rates, and list growth, which is sufficient for most newsletter creators focused on content rather than data analysis.

Pricing

EmailOctopus offers a free Starter plan supporting up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month , requiring no credit card to start. Paid Pro plans with extra features begin at $9 per month, scaling with the size of your list at a fraction of what competitors like Mailchimp or AWeber charge . The Pro plan removes EmailOctopus branding and provides unlimited landing pages, forms, and users . All plans run month-to-month with no annual commitment required, and the platform automatically upgrades your plan when you exceed subscriber limits . Nonprofit organizations receive a 20% lifetime discount on all plans , and dedicated IP addresses are available for $29 per month, significantly cheaper than most competitors .