Campaign Monitor vs EmailOctopus
Campaign Monitor and EmailOctopus are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. Campaign Monitor has been around since 2004, giving it a 10-year head start over EmailOctopus (founded 2014). EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $9/mo — that's $3 less than Campaign Monitor's $12/mo entry point. EmailOctopus offers a free plan (2,500 subscribers), while Campaign Monitor does not. Campaign Monitor stands out with A/B testing and SMS marketing, while EmailOctopus offers landing pages.
Quick Verdict
Campaign Monitor wins on integrations.
EmailOctopus wins on price, rating, free tier.
Best for most users: EmailOctopus (beginners).
Campaign Monitor
Beautifully crafted email marketing
Campaign Monitor is particularly well-suited for agencies and brands that need polished, branded email campaigns. Its client management features and beautiful template builder make it a popular choice for marketing agencies managing multiple client accounts.
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 | Campaign Monitor | EmailOctopus |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $9/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 2,500 subscribers |
| Founded | 2004 | 2014 |
| Email Templates | 120 | 30 |
| Integrations | 250 | 45 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 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 | ✓ | ✕ |
Campaign Monitor: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent email template builder
- +Strong agency features and client management
- +Good deliverability
- +Time zone sending optimization
- +Link review feature prevents broken links
Cons
- −No free plan
- −Lite plan caps at 2,500 emails
- −Premier plan expensive ($159/mo)
- −No landing page builder
- −Limited automation on lower tiers
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
Campaign Monitor and EmailOctopus are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality.
| Criterion | Weight | Campaign Monitor | EmailOctopus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo | $9/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 97.5% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 250 | 45 |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Campaign Monitor if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You need built-in landing pages
- + You're a beginners