Which platform gets you from signup to your first email in the least time—and with fewer headaches? That question matters when your team must deliver results fast. The ideal platform not only streamlines the process but also fosters creativity and engagement among team members. By providing a welcoming atmosphere of home, it encourages collaboration and innovation, allowing your team to focus on crafting compelling messages instead of troubleshooting technical issues. In this fast-paced environment, choosing the right tools can make all the difference in achieving timely and effective communication.
You need a clear, practical comparison that links features to real tasks: automation, lists, templates, funnels, and reporting. This introduction cuts to the chase.
We compare two established email marketing software options used by U.S. teams that need more than basic newsletters. One tends to bundle landing pages, funnels, and webinars; the other focuses on polished email design and list-centric workflows.
Read on to see where each tool saves you time, which features are built in, and which choices match common agency use cases like weekly newsletters, lifecycle flows, and basic ecommerce.
Key Takeaways
- One option offers broader built-in funnels and landing assets.
- The other emphasizes refined email design and list management.
- Both support automation, segmentation, and reporting.
- Pick by how fast you need to launch the first email.
- We highlight constraints you’ll hit in the first 90 days.
Why small agencies are comparing these email marketing platforms right now
Tighter schedules and lean teams are pushing agencies to choose more capable email platforms. You juggle multiple client accounts and limited headcount, so you need tools that cut setup time and reduce tool sprawl.
Economic pressure makes predictable pricing and broad native features essential. Agencies balance built-in landing pages, funnels, and webinar options against refined editors and polished templates.
Deliverability and design still matter most: campaigns must look great and land in inboxes. That’s why teams test template quality, analytics, and optimization features before committing.
You also care where contact data lives. List-centric models change how fast you can segment and retarget. Fewer logins, native integrations, and clear roadmaps speed deployment and limit training.
- You trade breadth of features for refined execution when time is tight.
- Budget constraints push a true comparison of toolsets and long-term costs.
- Businesses demand fast time-to-value with simple reporting for stakeholders.
Bottom line up front for small agencies
Focus on outcomes: choose the platform that gets you from signup to measurable results fastest. Time matters when clients expect quick launches and reliable reporting.
Who should choose GetResponse and who should choose Campaign Monitor
Choose GetResponse if you rely on built-in growth levers—landing pages, funnels, webinars—and want automation templates that ship fast. This option tends to bundle more tools at lower tiers, which speeds setup and reduces add-ons.
Choose Campaign Monitor if your priority is sending beautifully designed email with a minimal learning curve. It’s a strong pick when clients need polished one-off broadcasts and you value pay-per-campaign flexibility for low-frequency sends.
Key takeaways on features, pricing, and time-to-value
- Features: GetResponse bundles more early; Campaign Monitor shines in editor and template polish.
- Pricing & plan impact: advanced automation often requires higher tiers on Campaign Monitor, affecting margins.
- Support & time-to-value: 24/7 live chat in GetResponse helps keep client work moving; phone support appears at higher Campaign Monitor tiers.
| Aspect | GetResponse | Campaign Monitor |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in growth tools | Landing pages, funnels, webinars included | Limited; focuses on email templates |
| Design & editor | Functional, template library | Sleek editor; modern templates |
| Automation & workflows | Strong templates at lower tiers | Advanced automation on higher plans |
| Support | 24/7 live chat | Phone support at Premier; solid docs |
| Best fit | Ongoing lifecycle email and funnels | Polished one-off campaigns and broadcasts |
GetResponse vs Campaign Monitor for small agencies
When your calendar is full, the platform that reduces steps wins. U.S. agencies supporting SMBs need repeatable onboarding, fast lead capture, and reliable lifecycle email.
You benefit when a single package cuts the number of integrations you must manage. One product includes landing pages, funnels, webinars, and ready automation templates. That setup reduces tool sprawl and speeds delivery of lead-gen programs.
The other platform centers on an intuitive email builder and modern templates. It streamlines campaign production and helps you send polished newsletters with fewer revisions. Journeys and segments appear on higher tiers, which matters if clients want multi-step flows.
- Get faster launches: built-in pages + funnels shorten setup time.
- Polished sends: sleek editor and templates reduce review cycles.
- Scale choice: choose breadth when you upsell journeys; choose polish when broadcasts dominate.
| Agency Need | Platform Strength | When it helps your business |
|---|---|---|
| Lead capture & funnels | Built-in landing pages and funnels | Removes extra integrations for lead-gen programs |
| Newsletter design | Polished editor and modern templates | Saves time on revisions and branding |
| Lifecycle automation | Pre-made workflows and triggers | Speeds delivery of multi-step journeys |
Pricing and plans: what you’ll pay per month as your list grows
As subscriber counts climb, monthly bills change fast—so plan selection matters. You need clear numbers and rules to forecast client costs.
Plan tiers and included features
GetResponse offers Email, Pro, Max, and Enterprise tiers that include automation, landing pages, and basic analytics earlier in the lineup.
Campaign Monitor groups features into Basic, Unlimited, and Premier, with advanced automation and integrations gated higher.
Costs by subscriber bands and billing options
Compare broadcast + autoresponder pricing (monthly): at 0–1,000 contacts GetResponse is $15/month vs Campaign Monitor Basic at $29/month. Bands shift at 1,001–2,500 ($25 vs $29) and 2,501–5,000 ($45 vs $49). Annual discounts apply on both; Campaign Monitor also offers pay-per-campaign for infrequent senders.
Free trials, free plans, and overage policies
GetResponse runs a 1-month trial and auto-bills overages so sends continue. Campaign Monitor has a free plan up to 5 subscribers and throttles when you hit limits, prompting upgrade or extra payment. While both platforms offer unique advantages, many users appreciate GetResponse email marketing features for their user-friendly interface and automation capabilities. Additionally, the ability to seamlessly manage overages without interruption appeals to businesses looking for reliable email solutions. On the other hand, Campaign Monitor’s free plan is a great option for startups or small projects, though the limitations can quickly push users towards paid options.
| Metric | GetResponse (Email) | Campaign Monitor (Basic) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1,000 contacts | $15 / month | $29 / month |
| 2,501–5,000 contacts | $45 / month | $49 / month |
| Billing options | Monthly or annual discount; automatic overages | Monthly, annual via sales; pay-per-campaign option |
| Free testing | 1-month free trial | Free plan up to 5 subscribers |
Account and user interface: setup speed and daily usability
A smooth admin experience saves hours across client accounts and keeps launches on schedule.
Navigation and dashboards matter every day. One product shows a clean top menu with recent campaigns visible, while the other offers a widget-based dashboard and an optional guided tour. Both let you get to sending email quickly, but the widget approach surfaces KPIs faster.
Both platforms include a drag-and-drop builder and a modern template library. The editor workflow is fast, yet some form and segment controls live in side panels on one UI, which can add clicks during your first builds.
Multi-user workflows and collaboration
Shared templates, saved assets, and role-aware navigation shorten handoffs. If your team works across many accounts, look for quick access to shared libraries and straightforward user roles.
Help availability also affects launch speed. Live chat on certain plans speeds resolution of blockers, while limited support tiers increase the time to fix production issues.
- Quick send: guided onboarding + widgets surface daily metrics.
- Editor: drag-and-drop tools and templates reduce design time.
- Collaboration: shared assets and role controls cut hunting for settings.
| Interface area | Platform A | Platform B |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | Widget-based, customizable KPIs | Clean top menu with recent campaigns |
| Editor & templates | Drag-and-drop builder; centralized pages/forms/funnels | Modern templates; some features in side panels |
| Collaboration | Shared assets, role-friendly navigation | Saved templates and team access; fewer centralized tools |
| Support impact | Guided tour + broader chat access shortens time to resolve issues | Straightforward UI; chat availability varies by plan |
Lists and contacts: importing, organizing, and scaling subscribers
Managing lists across multiple client accounts exposes how different platforms treat contacts and segmentation. Your import choices and list model shape how quickly you can launch targeted email programs and clean up messy data.
One option is list-centric: you pick single or double opt-in during import, but you must manage subscribers inside each list. That adds overhead when you want a global view or need to move entries across lists.
Migration experience, opt-in handling, and contact limits
Importing is smooth on both platforms. The list-centric product gives you opt-in control at import, which helps compliance during migrations. The contact-centric product auto-maps fields and lets you add uploads to a chosen list while offering an all-contacts view to copy or move entries.
Segmentation, tags, and engagement scoring
For ongoing targeting, tags and engagement scoring deliver more flexible segmentation than static lists. A contact-centric model that supports tagging simplifies behavioral targeting and lifecycle sends. That reduces duplicate segments and lowers manual rework when subscriber behavior changes.
- Pros of list-centric: clear opt-in choice on import; straightforward per-list controls.
- Pros of contact-centric: global contacts view, easy copy/move, tags, and scoring for richer segments.
| Area | List-centric | Contact-centric |
|---|---|---|
| Global view | No — manage per list | Yes — all contacts dashboard |
| Import control | Choose single/double opt-in | Auto-map fields; assign to list |
| Segmentation | List-based segments | Tags + engagement scoring |
Email creation and templates: building on-brand campaigns fast
Design speed matters. You need an editor that produces consistent, on-brand email without creating extra review cycles. Both platforms ship modern, responsive templates and a drag-and-drop builder so creative teams can move from brief to send quickly.
Editors, content blocks, and previews
One product favors a minimalist editor that keeps teams focused and produces fast-loading email with fewer distractions. The other adds saved sections, mobile and dark mode previews, and spam checks to cut iterations during final testing.
Template depth matters: a larger library covers newsletters, promotions, and lifecycle flows you can reuse across clients. If you run ecommerce, certain plans include widgets that insert products and dynamic elements without coding.
- Quick assembly: drag-and-drop blocks and responsive templates speed production.
- Quality checks: dark mode previews and spam checks reduce post-send fixes.
- Landing pages: having landing pages and templates in-platform keeps creative consistent across channels.
| Feature | Editor focus | Agency benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimalist editor | Cleaner UI, faster builds | Fewer distractions, quick sends |
| Saved sections & previews | Reusable blocks; mobile/dark view | Faster approvals; fewer revisions |
| Ecommerce widgets | Dynamic product elements | Improved conversion without dev work |
Reporting and analytics: from opens and clicks to decisions
Reporting turns raw sends into clear decisions you can act on. Good reports surface delivery, opens, and clicks so you can recommend next steps to clients. This section shows which insights you’ll use and how automated summaries cut admin time.
Core metrics, real-time insights, and scheduled reports
Both platforms deliver the basics: delivered, open, and click metrics by campaign or automation. Those numbers form the backbone of client reporting and A/B testing.
GetResponse gives real-time analytics and scheduled email summaries that arrive automatically after a send. That saves manual exports and speeds monthly reporting.
Campaign Monitor organizes performance through its Insights view, with reports by lists, segments, and engagement. Use those reports to spot winners and reroute budget or creative.
Device/geography breakdowns and social sharing data
Device-level data is crucial when audiences are mobile-heavy. Device analytics inform layout and CTA placement that lift click-through rates.
Geography and engagement views help you identify top regions and high-value segments. Social sharing stats complete the picture by showing content reach beyond inboxes.
- What both cover: delivery, opens, clicks with segment and list breakdowns.
- Time-savers: scheduled reports and real-time dashboards reduce manual pulls.
- Actionable slices: device and geography data guide design and targeting decisions.
| Report area | Real-time & scheduled | Campaign & segment Insights |
|---|---|---|
| Core metrics | Delivery, opens, clicks (real-time) | Delivery, opens, clicks (organized per campaign) |
| Audience breakdowns | Device, social sharing, engagement | Geography, list/segment engagement |
| Automated delivery | Post-send summaries and scheduled reports | Insights exports and segmented reports |
If you package monthly performance for clients, automated report delivery reduces administrative work and keeps stakeholders aligned. For more hands-on testing and community feedback, see the GetResponse Reddit review.
Lead capture and landing pages: forms, pages, and funnels that convert
Landing assets and capture forms determine how quickly a campaign starts turning leads into revenue. Choose tools that let you stand up pages and forms without extra vendors or dev time.
Signup forms and builders
Forms must be easy to style and embed on a website. One platform offers hundreds of templates and a true drag-and-drop form builder with custom styling. The other provides a basic form creator with limited controls and a weak WordPress plugin, which often forces third-party forms.
Landing pages, A/B testing, countdowns, and payments
Native landing pages speed launches. The richer option includes 180+ landing pages, A/B testing, countdown timers, and PayPal payments. That setup lets you run lead or sales flows without adding separate software. If you lack a full website, these pages can stand alone and accept payments.
Conversion funnels and end-to-end campaign tracking
Conversion funnels that link forms, pages, emails, and follow-ups simplify reporting. Built-in funnels track page hits, signups, and revenue across the journey, so you see which pages and emails drive sales. If you depend on external landing tools, expect extra cost and setup time.
- Native capture: eliminates extra tools for many campaigns.
- End-to-end: funnels tie pages, forms, and emails into one view.
- When to use external tools: basic form creators or poor plugins mean you’ll need a separate landing vendor.
| Feature | Native option | Third-party required |
|---|---|---|
| Form templates & styling | Hundreds of templates, drag-and-drop | Basic creator, limited styling |
| Landing page tools | Built-in pages, A/B testing, countdowns | No native builder — use external |
| Funnels & tracking | End-to-end conversion tracking | Manual stitching of pages, emails, and integrations |
Email marketing automation: triggers, rules, and actions that save time
Triggers and actions shape how quickly you can react to customer behavior and revenue signals. That speed matters when you run multiple client programs and need consistent results.
Journey builders differ in depth. One platform limits journeys to a single trigger point and provides eight trigger types, five rule options, and just two actions (send email, delay). Journeys must be built from scratch and are tied to a single list.
The other platform offers a much broader toolkit: 17 triggers, 17 rules, and 18 actions. It supports web, app, CRM, and external event triggers and includes ecommerce events like cart and purchase.
Rules, conditions, and available actions
Rules cover segments, behaviors, and purchase history so you can route contacts dynamically. Actions include tagging, scoring, list moves, splits, delays, and targeted sends. Those options enable nuanced re-targeting without manual exports.
Pre-made flows and plan limits
One vendor provides 46 pre-made flows—onboarding, cart recovery, re-engagement—helping users launch fast. The other provides core journeys only, which means builds start from scratch and take longer. Confirm the required plan before promising advanced journeys to clients.
| Area | Limited automation | Expanded automation |
|---|---|---|
| Triggers | 8 | 17 |
| Rules | 5 | 17 |
| Actions | 2 (Email, Delay) | 18 (tagging, scoring, splits, moves…) |
Integrations and support: ecosystem fit and help when you need it
Choosing the right integrations and dependable support shapes how fast your team can launch client campaigns. You want an ecosystem that plugs into CRMs, CMSs, and ecommerce platforms without constant custom work.
App ecosystems, APIs, and third-party tools
Both platforms link widely to major apps and offer APIs for deeper work. campaign monitor centralizes connectors in a browsable app store. That makes discovery quick when you need a specific integration.
By contrast, getresponse groups integrations inside each tool area — forms, pages, or funnels — which keeps related connectors close to the feature you use.
Support channels, live chat availability, and phone tiers
Support matters when deadlines hit. GetResponse supplies 24/7 live chat and email plus webinars to speed team ramp-up. That live chat presence reduces downtime on urgent sends.
Campaign Monitor offers email support on lower plans and phone support on Premier tiers. If fast replies matter to your clients, compare SLAs before choosing software.
| Area | GetResponse-style | campaign monitor-style |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | Grouped by tool (forms, pages, ecommerce) | Central app store for easy browsing |
| Support channels | 24/7 live chat, email, webinars | Email support; phone on Premier plans |
| Trial options | 1-month free trial | Free account (up to 5 subscribers) for testing |
Conclusion
Conclusion
Pick the option that reduces handoffs and keeps your clients’ emails hitting inboxes on schedule.
If you need landing pages, funnels, built-in forms, and 24/7 live chat to speed delivery, getresponse bundles those features and often lowers cost per subscriber. If your priority is beautifully crafted templates and fast campaign production, campaign monitor gives a polished editor and pay-per-campaign flexibility.
Map each platform to the services you sell. Choose broader tools when you offer funnels and ongoing automation. Choose refined email design when one-off broadcasts and tight creative reviews matter.
Make the decision that saves you the most time and reduces tools so your team can focus on results, testing, and reliable analytics.