EmailOctopus vs Flodesk
EmailOctopus and Flodesk are both popular choices in the email marketing platform space. EmailOctopus has been around since 2014, giving it a 5-year head start over Flodesk (founded 2019). EmailOctopus starts at $9/mo versus $38/mo for Flodesk. Both offer free plans to get started. EmailOctopus stands out with API access, while Flodesk offers ecommerce integrations. Both tools work well for bloggers and solopreneurs.
Quick Verdict
EmailOctopus wins on price, deliverability, integrations.
Flodesk wins on rating.
Best for most users: EmailOctopus (beginners).
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.
Flodesk
Design emails people love to get
Flodesk is a design-first email marketing platform known for its stunning templates and flat-rate pricing model. It's particularly popular among creative professionals who prioritize visual design over advanced marketing features. The unlimited subscriber pricing makes it excellent value for growing lists.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | EmailOctopus | Flodesk |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $38/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | Free list-building tools (forms, landing pages, audience tools); email sending requires paid plan |
| Founded | 2014 | 2019 |
| Email Templates | 30 | 40 |
| Integrations | 45 | 20 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 96% |
| 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 | ✕ | ✕ |
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
Flodesk: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Beautiful, design-focused email templates
- +Flat-rate pricing regardless of list size
- +Unlimited subscribers on all plans
- +Simple and intuitive interface
- +Built-in checkout and digital product sales
Cons
- −No A/B testing
- −No API access
- −Very limited integrations
- −No SMS marketing
- −Basic automation compared to competitors
The Verdict
Flodesk edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating compared to EmailOctopus's 4.2/5. The gap comes mainly from support (4.4 vs 3.8) and feature depth (4.4 vs 3.9). On deliverability, EmailOctopus reports 97.5% compared to 96% for Flodesk — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | EmailOctopus | Flodesk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo | $38/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% | 96% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 45 | 20 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose EmailOctopus if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($9/mo)
- + You need API access for custom integrations
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a startups
Choose Flodesk if…
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You're a designers
- + You're a creatives