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Benchmark Email
- Free forever plan
- 35+ integrations
- Shopify app & Wordpress plugin
- User-friendly interface
- No mobile apps
- Occasional integration issues
Benchmark Email is a comprehensive email marketing software best for businesses seeking robust automation and user-friendly design. It excels in campaign management but can be pricey for larger subscriber lists.
Read on to discover its full range of features, pricing, and customer support insights.
SMB Guide’s Verdict for Benchmark Email
Benchmark Email has earned an overall rating of 8.5 out of 10 due to its well-rounded service that effectively meets the needs of both novice and experienced marketers. This score reflects the platform’s strengths in user interface design, powerful automation features, and extensive integrations, which collectively enhance user experience and campaign effectiveness.
Despite minor limitations in advanced reporting features compared to some competitors, the comprehensive support options and continuous platform updates contribute significantly to its high rating.
Users appreciate the blend of functionality, ease of use, and affordability that Benchmark Email offers, making it a strong contender in the email marketing landscape.
| Factor | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Pricing & Plans | 8 |
| Marketing Automation Capabilities | 9 |
| Email Builder | 9 |
| Personalization & Customization | 9 |
| Campaign Performance Tracking | 8 |
| User Interface and User Experience | 9 |
| Integrations and Compatibility | 8 |
| Customer Support | 8 |
| SMB Guide Rating | 8.5 |
In this review of Benchmark Email, I’ve followed SMB Guide’s detailed criteria for evaluating the email marketing software.
Pricing & Plans
Benchmark Email offers a competitive pricing structure catering to businesses of all sizes. The platform features a variety of plans, including a free tier, allowing users to test the service before committing.
Each plan provides distinct features designed to align with the needs and budgets of remote businesses.
Free
The free plan enables you to explore basic features without any financial commitment.
Price
- $0 per month
- $0 per year
Features
- Send up to 3,500 emails per month (500 contact limit)
- Access to basic email templates
- Simple drag-and-drop editor
- Basic reporting and analytics
- Limited automation capabilities
- List management features
- Community support
Who it’s for: Ideal for small businesses or startups exploring email marketing without upfront costs.
Pro
The Pro plan includes advanced functionalities ideal for growing businesses looking to enhance their marketing efforts.
Price
- Starts at $15/month before annual billing discount
- Starts at $13/month with annual billing ($156/year)
Pricing is based on the number of contacts on your list, with the lowest option being up to 500 contacts. It’s $499/month for 100,000 contacts. On the annual plan, that decreases to $424/month.
Features
- Unlimited emails
- Access to premium templates
- Advanced automation workflows
- Enhanced reporting features
- Comprehensive analytics
- Custom branding options
- List segmentation capabilities
- Priority customer support
Who it’s for: Best suited for small to medium businesses needing robust email marketing features.
Enterprise
Designed for larger organizations, the Enterprise plan offers tailored solutions to meet complex marketing needs.
Price
- Custom pricing
Features
- All Pro plan features
- Advanced team collaboration tools
- API access for custom integrations
- Dedicated account management
- Enhanced security features
- Comprehensive onboarding assistance
- Compliance with enterprise-level security standards
Who it’s for: Targeted at large enterprises requiring extensive customization and support.
Build beautiful, responsive emails with Benchmark's email marketing platform to engage subscribers, nurture leads, and track results.
Marketing Automation Capabilities
Benchmark Email excels in providing robust marketing automation tools. Users can create intricate workflows incorporating branching logic and conditional actions, allowing campaigns to adapt based on recipient interactions.
The platform offers a variety of triggers—including user behavior, time-based, and external event triggers—for initiating automated actions.
It’s worth noting that unless you upgrade to a paid plan, your automation options are limited. You can only do contact list automation, emailing new subscribers to welcome them, automated emails for birthdays or anniversaries, or reminder emails based on dates.
If you want email engagement automations, you’ll have to upgrade.
Email Builder
Benchmark Email offers a diverse array of pre-designed email templates that cater to various marketing needs, ensuring a professional appearance with every campaign.
The drag-and-drop editor enhances usability, allowing users to easily customize layouts by repositioning elements without requiring advanced design skills.
Each template is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring emails display correctly across all screen sizes. For those who prefer more control, the software allows direct HTML editing, facilitating the creation of custom templates.
You can preview their emails across different email clients and devices and run spam tests to enhance deliverability, making it a comprehensive tool for email design.
Personalization & Customization
The platform excels in dynamic content insertion, enabling you to personalize emails based on recipient attributes, behaviors, or segmentation criteria. It provides a versatile range of merge tags, allowing tailored messaging, such as seamlessly inserting recipient names or locations within the content.
The robust segmentation options allow marketers to target specific audience segments effectively. You can easily apply personalization tokens to enhance engagement based on individual user behaviors or interactions from previous campaigns, ensuring a more relevant communication strategy.
Campaign Performance Tracking
Benchmark Email tracks essential email marketing metrics, including open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and overall ROI. Real-time reporting dashboards enable users to monitor campaign performance as it unfolds, with capabilities to set and track specific goals, such as lead generation or revenue objectives.
A/B testing is straightforward, offering insights that help refine campaigns for better results. Integration with third-party analytics platforms like Google Analytics allows for comprehensive tracking and analysis, enhancing the user’s ability to evaluate campaign effectiveness.
User Interface and User Experience
The interface is designed for intuitiveness, allowing you to create, send, and manage emails with minimal effort. The layout and organization of menus and features facilitate easy navigation, while customizable templates alongside a drag-and-drop editor simplify the email creation process.
You benefit from robust preview and testing features that ensure emails render correctly on various devices and email clients. The software also offers customizable dashboards and shortcuts to streamline access to frequently used functions.
Integrations and Compatibility
Natively, you can import contacts from Google Contacts, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Zoho, Shopify, and more. You can connect to eBay, Facebook, PayPal, SurveyMonkey, Unbounce, and WordPress.
Other integrations are possible through Zapier (which may require an additional subscription if you need to connect premium apps or run a certain number of tasks daily) or through a direct API connection (which requires a developer).
Customer Support
Benchmark Email offers a variety of customer support channels, including live chat, email, and phone support, alongside a comprehensive knowledge base.
The response times are efficient, with support agents demonstrating effectiveness in resolving user queries and issues. Extensive documentation, tutorials, and user guides enhance the user experience, while community forums provide additional avenues for support.
Training resources, such as webinars and online courses, are also available, empowering users to maximize their use of the software’s capabilities.
Benchmark Email — Unique Features
Benchmark Email offers innovative automation workflows, allowing you to create sophisticated marketing strategies that adapt to recipient engagement.
AI-driven insights into user behavior provide actionable recommendations to help optimize future campaigns.
What the Experts Say About Benchmark Email
As of this writing in July 2024, Benchmark Email had the following ratings:
- G2 rating: 4.3/5 (96 reviews)
- TrustRadius rating: 3.2/5 (24 reviews)
- Gartner rating: 4.6/5 (42 reviews)
We have used BE since 2016 and only have one other similar service in case we need a backup, but have not needed it. Benchmark Email service is a sure thing we have come to depend on because 90% of our subscribers communicate with us by email rather than social media.
Frank C., Independent Artist – Verified Capterra review
In the company where we use this tool, we send between 10,000 and 15,000 emails a day, the most important thing is that at the end of the month there are more than 250,000 emails to our databases, with open rates always above 10% and with tools tracking, landing pages and many other functions we have always stressed that Benchmark Email is the best company of its kind in the world. Others much more recognized may offer the same, but at prices well above what they grant, so you will always be grateful with this tool.
Juan A., Webmaster – Verified Capterra review
Benchmark Email Alternatives
Unsure about Benchmark? Take a look at these other options:
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Primary Rating:
4.2
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4.7
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4.0
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Free - $669/mo
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$8/mo - $1,169/mo
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Free - $1,900/mo
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Brevo
Brevo excels in providing an all-in-one marketing solution, integrating email marketing with SMS campaigns, CRM capabilities, and e-commerce functionality. It also offers a free plan, with paid options starting at $9 per month.
Brevo is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses that require a comprehensive marketing tool without the complexity of multiple platforms.
Sign up to Brevo for free today!
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign stands out with its advanced marketing automation features and robust CRM and sales automation capabilities. Starting at $15 per month after a free trial, it’s best for businesses looking to seamlessly integrate their sales and marketing efforts, especially those prioritizing personalized customer experiences through sophisticated segmentation and automation workflows.
Sign up for your free trial of ActiveCampaign
MailerLite
MailerLite is known for its user-friendly interface and simplicity, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and startups. It has a free plan, with paid plans starting at $9 per month.
MailerLite differentiates itself through its emphasis on intuitive design and ease of use, offering essential email marketing features without unnecessary complexity, which is ideal for users who may be new to email marketing.
Sign up to MailerLite for free
Getting Started with Benchmark Email
To harness the full potential of your email marketing campaigns, getting started with Benchmark Email is straightforward. Sign up for a free trial to explore the platform’s features and determine how it can meet your specific marketing needs.
With its robust functionality and user-friendly interface, you can begin crafting personalized campaigns, tracking performance, and optimizing engagement in no time.
Give Benchmark Email a try for free
FAQs
Is Benchmark Email legit?
Benchmark Email is a legitimate email marketing service that has operated since 2004. It is widely used by businesses worldwide for its robust features and reliable service.
The platform complies with major regulations, including GDPR and CAN-SPAM, ensuring users can engage in ethical email marketing practices while protecting recipient privacy. Benchmark Email has received positive user reviews for its effective functionality, customer support, and innovative features.
How do I contact Benchmark Email?
To contact Benchmark Email, you can access multiple support channels. Live chat is available through the website, providing immediate assistance for pressing inquiries. Users can also email or call their customer support hotline for more detailed assistance.
The comprehensive knowledge base offers many articles, tutorial videos, and FAQs for self-help options. Community forums are accessible where you can exchange knowledge and experiences with fellow Benchmark Email users.
Is Benchmark Email easy to use?
Yes, Benchmark Email is known for its user-friendly interface that simplifies the email marketing process. Its intuitive design allows both novice and experienced marketers to create, send, and manage campaigns with minimal effort.
The drag-and-drop email editor, customizable templates, and straightforward dashboard contribute to ease of use. The platform provides helpful resources, including tutorials and a knowledge base, to assist users in navigating and maximizing their experience with the software.
Build beautiful, responsive emails with Benchmark's email marketing platform to engage subscribers, nurture leads, and track results.
Benchmark Email
Build beautiful, responsive emails with Benchmark's email marketing platform to engage subscribers, nurture leads, and track results.
Product Brand: Benchmark Email
4.3
