AWeber vs EmailOctopus
AWeber and EmailOctopus are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. AWeber has been around since 1998, giving it a 16-year head start over EmailOctopus (founded 2014). EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $9/mo — that's $6 less than AWeber's $15/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. AWeber has the edge with A/B testing, ecommerce integrations, advanced analytics. Both tools work well for small businesses and solopreneurs.
Quick Verdict
AWeber wins on deliverability, integrations.
EmailOctopus wins on price.
Best for most users: AWeber (small businesses).
AWeber
Powerfully simple email marketing
AWeber is one of the original email marketing platforms, serving small businesses since 1998. It offers the largest template library (600+) and an impressive integration ecosystem. While its automation isn't as advanced as newer competitors, its reliability and excellent affiliate program make it a solid choice.
EmailOctopus
Email marketing made easy
EmailOctopus is a stripped-back email marketing tool that focuses on simplicity and affordability. It's ideal for small businesses and creators who want the essentials without paying for features they won't use. Built on Amazon SES for reliable deliverability.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AWeber | EmailOctopus |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $15/mo | $9/mo |
| Free Plan | 500 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers |
| Founded | 1998 | 2014 |
| Email Templates | 600 | 30 |
| Integrations | 750 | 45 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.8% | 97.5% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✕ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✕ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✕ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✕ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✓ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✓ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✕ |
AWeber: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +600+ email templates (largest library)
- +750+ integrations
- +Established and reliable (since 1998)
- +Free plan available
- +Excellent affiliate program (up to 50% recurring)
Cons
- −Interface feels dated compared to newer tools
- −Automation capabilities lag behind competitors
- −Free plan is limited
- −Lite plan restricts automations to 3
- −No SMS marketing
EmailOctopus: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers)
- +Very affordable Pro plan
- +Simple and clean interface
- +Good deliverability using Amazon SES
- +Easy migration from other platforms
Cons
- −Limited feature set compared to competitors
- −No A/B testing
- −Small template library
- −Basic automation capabilities
- −No ecommerce features
The Verdict
AWeber and EmailOctopus are closely matched — both score within 0.0 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, AWeber reports 97.8% compared to 97.5% for EmailOctopus — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | AWeber | EmailOctopus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $15/mo | $9/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.8% | 97.5% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 750 | 45 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose AWeber if…
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics
- + You're a creators
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a startups