Constant Contact vs EmailOctopus
Constant Contact is a all-in-one marketing platform while EmailOctopus is a email marketing platform. Constant Contact has been around since 1995, giving it a 19-year head start over EmailOctopus (founded 2014). EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $9/mo, which is $3 less than Constant Contact's $12/mo entry point. EmailOctopus offers a free plan (2,500 subscribers), while Constant Contact does not. Constant Contact has the edge with A/B testing, SMS marketing, ecommerce integrations. Both tools work well for small businesses.
Quick Verdict
EmailOctopus wins on price, deliverability, rating, integrations, free tier.
Best for most users: EmailOctopus (beginners).
Constant Contact
Small business marketing made easy
Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms, particularly strong for small businesses and nonprofits. Its event marketing capabilities and social media integration set it apart, though its automation features lag behind newer competitors.
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 | Constant Contact | EmailOctopus |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $12/mo | $9/mo |
| Free Plan | No free plan | 2,500 subscribers |
| Founded | 1995 | 2014 |
| Email Templates | 300 | 100 |
| Integrations | 300 | 1,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97% | 97.5% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | No |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | Yes | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | No |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | No |
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Longest 60-day free trial in the industry
- + Excellent event marketing features
- + 300+ templates and integrations
- + Strong brand recognition and trust
- + Social media posting included
Cons
- − No free plan
- − Automation is basic on lower tiers
- − Gets expensive with larger lists
- − Interface feels outdated in places
- − Limited advanced features
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
Constant Contact 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. On deliverability, EmailOctopus reports 97.5% compared to 97% for Constant Contact — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | Constant Contact | EmailOctopus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $12/mo | $9/mo Winner |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97% | 97.5% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 300 | 1000 Winner |
| Free Tier | 10% | No | Yes Winner |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose Constant Contact 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're a beginners
- + You're a bloggers