Surprising fact: we tested over 30 platforms hands-on to find the tools that drive course revenue, not just send newsletters.
This guide compares the systems that matter to course creators. You’ll see where beginner-friendly editors win and where advanced automation delivers real retention.
We flag concrete data: ActiveCampaign’s 900+ workflow templates and a 14‑day trial, MailerLite’s free plan with up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly sends, and Brevo’s free tier that permits 300 emails/day plus CRM, SMS, and WhatsApp. GetResponse stands out with conversion funnels, webinars, AI subject lines, and ecommerce automations; its paid tiers add full store integrations.
Expect a pragmatic, data-driven shortlist that maps tools to course funnels: lead capture, onboarding, webinar launches, and upsells. We also link trials so you can get started quickly — if you want an all‑in‑one funnel + webinar + messaging solution, try GetResponse’s 30‑day free trial
Key Takeaways
- We reviewed 30+ tools to help you find best email options for course revenue and retention.
- Compare automation depth, template counts, and pricing bands to choose fast.
- Free plan usability varies — MailerLite and Brevo offer notable no-cost tiers.
- GetResponse combines funnels, webinars, and ecommerce; try the 30‑day trial to validate fit.
- Look for native SMS/WhatsApp and transactional features for confirmations and reminders.
Why Email Marketing Platforms for Online Courses Matter Right Now
The best systems do more than send broadcasts; they automate revenue-driving student journeys. Centralized tools let you grow lists, segment learners, and run automations that recover carts, onboard students, and attribute revenue.
Course sales, student engagement, and retention scale when technology ties actions to outcomes. Tools like Omnisend, Klaviyo, and ActiveCampaign bring ecommerce-grade automation and personalization that map directly to course funnels.
Course sales, student engagement, and retention at scale
Automations reduce manual work. Abandoned signup and cart reminders lift enrollments without extra outreach. Segmentation sends the right lesson to the right learner by skill, cohort, or pathway.
How this roundup helps you choose faster
- Profit focus: we evaluate tools on revenue impact, not vanity metrics.
- Practical limits: we flag template depth, learning curves, and daily send caps on a free plan.
- Fast shortlist: match your launch model (live vs. evergreen) to automation depth to narrow to 2–3 candidates quickly.
- Try-as-you-go: if you need funnels plus webinars, you can move directly to a GetResponse 30‑day free trial to test integrated flows.
Ultimately, this section shows how the right choice shifts your focus from rented audiences on social media to owned lists that drive consistent revenue.
How We Chose: Criteria That Actually Impact Course Revenue
Our reviews focused on features that move the needle on student signups and retention. You need tools that speed launches and protect revenue. We rated each product by outcomes, not buzz.
Priority one: a fast drag-and-drop builder and a quality email editor. Course creators send often, so the editor must cut design time and reduce errors.
Template quality and production speed
- Email templates that fit newsletters, onboarding, and launches shorten setup time.
- We counted template depth and reuse options; ActiveCampaign (240+) and MailerLite (90+) scored high.
Automation depth that actually converts
- Visual automation builders with detailed triggers let you map welcome flows, progress drips, and abandoned cart emails quickly.
- We tested real workflows—welcome, onboarding, cart recovery—to judge setup speed and flexibility.
Landing pages, segmentation, pricing, deliverability
Built-in landing pages and forms reduce tool sprawl and speed MVP funnels. Segmentation and personalization must support behavior triggers and content rules.
We also weighed deliverability support, domain authentication guidance, and practical free plan limits. Brevo’s 300/day free send cap and transactional features raised its score for notifications.
| Factor | What we measured | Why it matters | Representative data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop editor | Speed, blocks, mobile preview | Fewer edits, faster launches | ActiveCampaign: robust editor; MailerLite: very clean editor |
| Automation features | Triggers, conditional splits, templates | Improves conversions and retention | ActiveCampaign: 900+ workflows |
| Landing pages & forms | Templates, A/B, native hosting | Reduces tech stack and friction | MailerLite: generous free plan with landing pages |
| Pricing & deliverability | Free plan limits, sends/month, auth help | Controls cost and inbox rate | Brevo: 300/day free sends; clear auth guidance |
GetResponse: All‑in‑One Funnels, Webinars, and Automation Built for Course Creators
GetResponse combines conversion funnels and native webinars so you can move from lead to sale inside one interface. That reduces integrations and speeds launches. It also ties attendance to follow-up flows and revenue reporting.
Standout features include conversion funnels, built-in webinars, AI subject lines, and ecommerce automations. The system supports multi-channel campaigns (email, SMS, paid ads) and ships attractive email templates and landing pages that help you run email campaigns fast.
Pricing snapshot and who it fits best
Plans scale by contacts. Entry tiers list at about $19 per month for 1,000 contacts, with advanced ecommerce and webinar tools on higher levels. The free plan exists but limits store integrations and some marketing features.
- End-to-end funnels: opt-ins, pages, emails, checkout in one place.
- Native webinars: run live or automated events and trigger follow-ups by attendance.
- Smart copy: AI subject lines to boost opens in launch and onboarding sequences.
- Commerce flows: cart recovery and product recommendations via marketing automation.
Try GetResponse free for 30 days — get started now: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR. Use the free trial to test funnels, the drag-and-drop email editor, and reporting before you commit.
ActiveCampaign: Advanced Marketing Automation Without the Bloat
ActiveCampaign pairs an extensive workflow library with predictive tools to prioritize high‑value leads. It’s built around a visual automation builder that supports deep triggers, conditional splits, and tags. That makes complex lifecycles easier to map and maintain.
Key platform facts: the system ships with 900+ workflow templates and 240+ email templates. It includes an integrated CRM and AI predictive analytics aimed at improving deliverability and conversion timing.
- Use prebuilt workflows to launch onboarding, upsell, and win‑back automations in minutes.
- Align sales and marketing with the built‑in CRM for high‑ticket cohorts and coaching add‑ons.
- Predictive sending and lead scoring help prioritize who sees which offer and when.
- The drag-and-drop editor and templates speed production while keeping design control.
Who should pick it? Choose ActiveCampaign when automation depth is your main growth lever. Starter tiers begin around $15–$19 for 1,000 contacts and roughly 10,000 emails, and a 14‑day free trial lets you validate complex onboarding flows before migrating.
MailerLite: Beginner‑Friendly Builder with a Generous Free Plan
MailerLite pairs a very tidy editor with a free tier that actually lets early creators test real funnels. The interface is uncluttered, so you build fast and make fewer errors.
What it ships: a drag-and-drop editor, 90+ email templates, landing pages, forms, and embedded surveys/quizzes that help you gather feedback and segment learners.
Where it shines
- Ideal for your first funnel: clean UI and fast setup get you live quickly.
- Product blocks and quizzes let you surface learner intent inside email campaigns.
- The free plan supports up to 1,000 contacts and 12,000 sends per month — a genuinely generous free plan to validate offers.
Limits to know
Automations cover welcome flows and basic ecommerce triggers. Advanced behavior-based splits and deep browse tracking are limited compared to enterprise solutions.
Paid plans start near $9 per month and remove send caps. If you want a quick, low-cost way to test onboarding and landing pages, MailerLite is one of the best email marketing tools to start with. Learn more about the best email marketing options while you test.
Brevo: Multichannel on a Budget with Transactional and SMS
If you need SMS, WhatsApp, and receipts alongside basic automations, Brevo gives you core capabilities without a big bill. The service pairs a sales CRM and website tracking with transactional sends and multichannel outreach.
What stands out: the free plan supports up to 100,000 contacts while capping sends at 300 per day. That makes the free plan generous on contacts but tight on launch-day throughput.
Segmentation, WhatsApp/SMS, CRM, daily send limits on free
Use segmentation and personalization to trigger targeted reminders and upgrade nudges. Connect website events to automations that enroll students into onboarding flows after key page views.
- Run email + SMS + WhatsApp to reach learners where they respond fastest.
- Send transactional emails for receipts, confirmations, and password resets out of the box.
- Track learner activity in the CRM to align support and sales touchpoints.
- Pricing charges by emails per month rather than contacts, which keeps cost forecasts predictable.
Best for simple course funnels and notifications
Brevo fits budget-conscious creators who need reliable alerts and basic funnels. The template library is smaller (~40+), so expect more DIY design work, but the editor stays straightforward.
| Feature | What it delivers | Practical impact |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 100,000 contacts, 300 sends/day | Great contact scale for lists; daily cap can slow launches |
| Multichannel messaging | SMS, WhatsApp, transactional emails | Higher reach and better confirmations/reminders |
| Billing model | Paid plans by emails per month (5,000 starts ~ $8) | Predictable spend during growth and launch cycles |
| Automation & tracking | Website tracking + workflow triggers | Timely onboarding and upsell touchpoints |
Omnisend: Ecommerce‑Style Automations for Course Checkouts
Omnisend ties ecommerce triggers to course checkout flows to recover lost revenue fast. It integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce and shines when you need conversion‑focused automations like abandoned cart and post‑purchase education.
Prebuilt workflows, conditional content, push/SMS
Start fast. Deploy prebuilt workflows for cart recovery, welcome series, and post‑purchase learning in minutes. The product‑centric editor adapts to bundles, tiers, and add‑on modules.
Why it’s compelling for cart recovery
Use conditional content blocks to tailor messages by segment without duplicating copies. Add SMS and web push to lift conversion rates when abandoned cart emails miss a buyer.
- Template depth: 350+ email templates and dynamic recommendations.
- Lifecycle mapping: Customer Lifecycle Map reveals where prospects stall.
- Free plan: test with 250 contacts, 500 emails, and 500 push; paid plans start at $16/month.
Bottom line: If your checkout is productized and order triggers drive enrollments, Omnisend delivers solid automation features and multi‑channel reach to recover carts and track revenue per flow.
Klaviyo: Data‑Driven Personalization for Scaling Course Brands
Klaviyo turns raw learner behavior into precise, revenue-driving sequences. It builds CDP‑style profiles that merge site actions, purchases, and engagement. That unified view lets you send highly relevant offers at the right moment.
Predictive analytics flag churn risk and next‑purchase propensity so you can time renewals and bundle pitches. Dynamic recommendations and content blocks adapt messages by course progress or interest.
Use A/B tests for forms and journeys to lift opt‑in and conversion rates. Pair email sms and SMS channels for deadline nudges and launch countdowns. Reporting also benchmarks performance against peers.
- Unify student data to drive hyper‑personalized sequences and upgrade paths.
- Predictive models identify when to promote bundles or certifications.
- Dynamic content blocks tailor lessons and add‑on offers by progress.
Tradeoffs: expect higher pricing and a steeper learning curve. Klaviyo suits teams with mature data practices and multi‑product catalogs who prioritize advanced personalization and analytics.
Drip: High‑Engagement Forms and Gamified List Growth
Drip turns site visits into high-value leads with interactive plays that beat standard popups. It focuses on ecommerce-grade campaigns like quizzes, surveys, mystery offers, and spin‑to‑win widgets that lift conversions and collect intent data.
Use these onsite experiences to segment learners from day one. Quizzes and micro‑surveys tag users by skill, interest, or learning style. That data feeds into multi‑step workflows that automate onboarding and win‑backs.
Onsite campaigns, workflows, and tradeoffs
- Interactive capture: widgets outperform basic popups at signups and engagement.
- Workflow depth: categorized triggers and actions let you build onboarding, upsell, and churn-reduction flows.
- Email-first focus: all features sit on the main tier; add separate tools if you need heavy SMS or CRM work.
| Feature | Practical impact | Who benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Onsite gamification | Higher opt-ins and richer segmentation | DTC course brands and launch teams |
| Robust workflows | Automated onboarding & win‑backs | Creators who value retention |
| Pricing | Starts at $39/month; scales by list size | Growth-stage creators with budget |
Mailchimp: Broad Integrations and Journey Builder for Simple Course Paths
Mailchimp pairs wide third-party connections with a visual Journey Builder to help you launch simple student flows quickly. Use the Creative Studio to centralize logos, color palettes, and reusable content blocks. That keeps brand assets consistent across landing pages and campaign templates.
Creative Studio, brand assets, ecommerce triggers
What you get: a drag-and-drop editor, plentiful email templates, and ready triggers that link signups, purchases, and webinar attendance.
- Launch basic journeys with a visual builder tied to common triggers.
- Centralize assets and content blocks to speed template reuse.
- Broad integrations help connect LMS, checkout, and webinar tools fast.
- Good fit for newsletters, announcements, and onboarding drips.
Watch the free plan limits: it now caps at about 500 contacts and 1,000 emails per month. Essentials starts near $12 per month and Standard around $20. Test deliverability setup (authentication) early to protect inbox placement as your list grows.
HubSpot: Email + CRM + Service for Full Student Lifecycle
HubSpot unifies sales, service, and campaign tools so you can manage each learner touchpoint in one system. The suite pairs a free CRM with paid hubs that scale to enterprise needs.
What this gives you: drag-and-drop email and landing pages, marketing automation, SMS marketing, social media campaigns, and cross-hub analytics. The free tier includes contacts, limited emails/day, landing pages, pipelines, a website/blog, ads, and live chat.
- Full lifecycle: move a lead to alumni inside one CRM and keep activity history intact.
- Reusable assets: build emails and landing pages with visual editors and share assets across hubs.
- Automations & handoffs: trigger onboarding, NPS, and support tickets automatically.
- Multi-channel reach: run email, SMS, and social campaigns and track cohort attribution.
- Integrations: 1,500+ connectors link LMS, billing, and analytics.
| Item | What it delivers | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Free CRM | Contacts, pages, basic sends | Low-cost test of core workflows |
| Reporting | Funnel & revenue insights | Measure cohort value and attribution |
| Pricing | Starts ~ $20/mo | Evaluate needed hubs and contact tiers early |
Who should consider HubSpot: teams that need service tickets, knowledge base, and robust reporting alongside marketing tools. It scales well but costs rise with add-ons and contact counts; plan around the hubs you actually need.
Constant Contact: Event‑Led Courses and Community Outreach
Constant Contact streamlines event-driven outreach with simple tools and strong support. It suits groups that run workshops, webinars, and local training where RSVPs matter.
Start fast. Ready-made email templates and guided setup from live reps get you live without long ramp-up. A 14‑day free trial lets you test RSVP flows and reminder sequences before you commit.
Templates, live support, straightforward campaigns
Use straightforward builders to create invite emails, registration pages, and reminders. Basic automations handle welcomes and follow-ups without complex rules.
- Run event-led promotions and manage RSVPs with built-in tools.
- Guided setup and live support shorten implementation time.
- Reporting covers opens, clicks, and attendance so you can improve outreach.
- Pricing starts near $12/month for small lists and scales as enrollments grow.
Best fit: community colleges, associations, and nonprofits that need easy-to-use marketing services and reliable event workflows. Consider migrating later if you need deeper ecommerce or funnel automation.
Email Marketing Platforms for Online Courses: Key Features You Can’t Skip
Prioritize actions that convert: cart recovery, dynamic content, and crisp landing pages. These features deliver measurable lifts without complex setups.
Abandoned cart emails for course enrollments
Enable abandoned cart emails to rescue learners who leave at checkout. A three-touch recovery flow with urgency and testimonials recovers the most revenue.
Behavior‑based segmentation and content blocks
Use behavior-based segmentation to send the right lesson at the right pace. Insert dynamic content blocks to personalize recommendations without duplicating templates.
Landing pages, lead magnets, and upsell paths
Build landing pages for lead magnets, waitlists, and cohorts. Map automated upsell paths from entry products to advanced tracks using triggers tied to purchases and progress.
Deliverability and compliance for higher inbox rates
Verify domain authentication and keep list hygiene strict. Set consent and preference centers to meet rules and improve deliverability. Integrate social media lead ads to feed lists and track revenue per automation.
- Enable abandoned cart emails to recover lost enrollments.
- Use behavior-based segments and content blocks to personalize at scale.
- Standardize templates to speed production and protect brand consistency.
Pricing Benchmarks: 500 Contacts, 1,000 Contacts, and Beyond
List size tells only half the story; the true cost comes from monthly send limits and feature gates.
Focus on sends per month and included features when you compare plans. At 500 contacts, entry tiers usually include basic automations, templates, and a modest number of sends per month. That often covers a steady onboarding drip and a few promos.
At 1,000 contacts, vendors diverge. ActiveCampaign lists near $15–$19 with roughly 10,000 emails. MailerLite’s paid plan can start at $9 and gives far more sends. Brevo charges by emails per month, with cheap tiers (5,000 emails ~ $8) that suit large lists.
| Tier | Example plan | Typical sends per month |
|---|---|---|
| 500 contacts | Omnisend $16 | ~6,000 emails per month |
| 1,000 contacts | ActiveCampaign $15–$19 | ~10,000 emails per month |
| Free starter | MailerLite / Brevo | MailerLite: 12,000 emails month; Brevo: 300/day |
Quick checklist: confirm sends per month, overage fees, and whether landing pages and reporting are included. A generous free plan that unlocks automations and pages can be the best way to validate a launch without surprise costs.
Automation Playbooks for Course Creators
Playbooks map real student behavior to clear, repeatable touchpoints. Build flows that reduce refunds, recover carts, and lift average order value. Start with simple, measurable sequences and add conditional splits as you learn.
Welcome & onboarding sequences that lower refunds
Set expectations fast. Deliver the lead magnet, point to the first lesson, then follow with short orientation tips. Add a “stuck?” rescue email after the first week to cut early churn.
Abandoned cart, win‑back, and cross‑sell mini‑funnels
Use a 2–3 step abandoned cart flow with FAQs and social proof. Trigger win‑back with a mini lesson or discount. Recommend advanced tracks based on completed modules using tags and custom fields.
Live launch vs. evergreen frameworks
Live launches need waitlist and webinar sequences with urgency. Evergreen funnels use behavior‑based entry and timed deadlines. Start from prebuilt workflows (ActiveCampaign, Omnisend) or GetResponse conversion funnels, then iterate on revenue attribution.
- Welcome series: set expectations and deliver the lead magnet.
- Onboarding: milestone nudges and rescue emails to reduce refunds.
- Cross‑sells: recommend products by completion tags.
| Playbook | Typical triggers | Suggested tools |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome & Onboarding | Signup, first login, inactivity | MailerLite, ActiveCampaign |
| Abandoned Cart | Checkout abandon, low engagement | Omnisend, GetResponse |
| Evergreen Funnel | Behavioral entry, time delays | GetResponse, ActiveCampaign |
Tip: Pair landing pages with each playbook and start with prebuilt workflows. Track revenue per flow and optimize the highest-impact sequences.
Explore prebuilt workflows in-depth: GetResponse email builder vs competitors.
Why Many Course Sellers Start with GetResponse
GetResponse bundles conversion funnels, webinars, and automation so you can run a full launch without juggling tools. That single login removes integration friction and speeds testing.
What that practical advantage looks like: AI subject lines, prebuilt automations, and templates let you ship welcome and launch sequences in days. Built‑in ecommerce automations handle cart recovery and post‑purchase education, so revenue paths are automated end to end.
- Consolidate pages, webinars, and email under one account to move faster and reduce error-prone integrations.
- Reduce launch friction for live or evergreen funnels and scale from 1,000 contacts as enrollments grow.
- Use AI subject lines and templates to boost opens and shorten setup time.
- Reporting ties opt‑ins to enrollments and revenue so you can measure impact.
Pragmatic start: if you value fewer tools and quicker validation, this is an efficient first pick. Launch faster — use the 30‑day free trial now: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
Conclusion
Prioritize the funnel you’ll run most often and the reports you need to measure it. Choose an all‑in‑one when you want fewer integrations, or pick deep automation if segmentation and personalization drive your offers.
Short checklist: validate a mini‑funnel with real traffic, measure revenue per flow, and keep your stack minimal to iterate faster. Across the field, ActiveCampaign, Omnisend, MailerLite, Brevo, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, Constant Contact, Drip, and GetResponse each trade depth, price, and multichannel reach differently.
If you want to build and test a complete funnel fast, try GetResponse’s 30‑day free trial and see how the best email marketing workflow performs in practice
Final tip: pick two finalists, pressure‑test them with a real mini‑funnel, then scale the winner.