EmailOctopus vs Keap
EmailOctopus is a email marketing platform while Keap is a all-in-one marketing platform. Keap has been around since 2001, giving it a 13-year head start over EmailOctopus (founded 2014). EmailOctopus is the more affordable option at $9/mo, which is $290 less than Keap's $299/mo entry point. EmailOctopus offers a free plan (2,500 subscribers), while Keap does not. Keap has the edge with A/B testing, SMS marketing, ecommerce integrations.
Quick Verdict
EmailOctopus wins on price, deliverability, free tier.
Keap wins on integrations.
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.
Keap
CRM-powered sales and marketing automation for small businesses
Keap (formerly Infusionsoft, founded 2001, acquired by Thryv in 2024) is a premium all-in-one CRM and marketing automation platform built for sales-driven small businesses that need contact management, email sequences, SMS marketing, invoicing, and appointment scheduling in a single tool. Its strength lies in powerful automation workflows and a dedicated Customer Success Manager, but the $299/month starting price for just 1,500 contacts makes it one of the most expensive options in its category.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | EmailOctopus | Keap |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Starting Price | $9/mo | $299/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | No free plan |
| Founded | 2014 | 2001 |
| Email Templates | 100 | 70 |
| Integrations | 1,000 | 5,000 |
| Deliverability Rate | 97.5% | 93% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | No | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | No | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | No | Yes |
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
Keap: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Powerful drag-and-drop automation builder that handles complex multi-step sales workflows with conditional triggers
- + True all-in-one platform combining CRM, email, SMS, invoicing, payments, and appointment scheduling
- + Dedicated Customer Success Manager included with every plan for hands-on onboarding and support
- + Deep contact management with tagging, segmentation, and centralized views that reduce manual data entry
- + Built-in text marketing with tiered messaging plans and voice minutes integrated directly into automations
Cons
- − Extremely expensive at $299/month for only 1,500 contacts, with costs escalating quickly for additional contacts and users
- − Steep learning curve with complex campaign builder layouts and no undo button, causing frustration during setup
- − Email marketing capabilities feel half-baked compared to dedicated email platforms despite the premium pricing
- − Invoicing feature is rigid and does not support hourly billing or flexible customization
- − Dated mobile experience and slow feature development compared to more agile competitors like GoHighLevel
The Verdict
EmailOctopus and Keap 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, EmailOctopus reports 97.5% compared to 93% for Keap — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | EmailOctopus | Keap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $9/mo Winner | $299/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 97.5% Winner | 93% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 1000 | 5000 Winner |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes Winner | No |
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 a free plan to get started
- + You're a beginners
- + You're a bloggers
Choose Keap if…
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You need ecommerce integrations
- + You need A/B testing
- + You need advanced analytics