AWeber vs Sender
AWeber and Sender are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. AWeber has been around since 1998, giving it a 14-year head start over Sender (founded 2012). Sender is the more affordable option at $10/mo — that's $5 less than AWeber's $15/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. AWeber stands out with A/B testing and landing pages, while Sender offers SMS marketing. Both tools work well for small businesses.
Quick Verdict
AWeber wins on deliverability, integrations.
Sender wins on price, rating.
Best for most users: Sender (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.
Sender
Affordable email and SMS marketing
Sender offers one of the most generous free plans in email marketing, combined with built-in SMS capabilities. It's an excellent choice for budget-conscious businesses that need both email and SMS marketing without breaking the bank.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | AWeber | Sender |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Starting Price | $15/mo | $10/mo |
| Free Plan | 500 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers |
| Founded | 1998 | 2012 |
| Email Templates | 600 | 50 |
| Integrations | 750 | 50 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.8% | 97% |
| 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
Sender: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Extremely generous free plan (2,500 subs, 15,000 emails)
- +Built-in SMS marketing on all plans
- +Very affordable paid plans
- +Ecommerce integrations for abandoned cart
- +No credit card required for free plan
Cons
- −No A/B testing
- −No landing page builder
- −Smaller integration ecosystem
- −Less well-known brand
- −Limited advanced features
The Verdict
Sender edges ahead with a 4.7/5 rating compared to AWeber's 4.2/5. The gap comes mainly from value for money (4.8 vs 4.2) and deliverability (4.6 vs 4). On deliverability, AWeber reports 97.8% compared to 97% for Sender — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | AWeber | Sender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $15/mo | $10/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.8% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 750 | 50 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose AWeber if…
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics
- + You're a solopreneurs
Choose Sender if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($10/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a ecommerce
- + You're a beginners