You’ve got a powerful email marketing campaign ready to go, but how do you send it to thousands or even millions of contacts on your list? For most marketers, using bulk email service providers is the easiest and most reliable way to deliver mass emails without the hassle of managing it all on your own. 

However, there’s a common misconception that all email service providers are the same. In reality, while they all allow you to send bulk emails, they differ in features, pricing, limits, and the additional channels they support.

To stand out, you need both a solid plan and a dependable platform to make sure your emails reach your audience. The right provider will ensure your campaigns don’t just get sent—they land in the inbox where they belong.

This guide will compare 12 of the best bulk email services to help you choose the right one for your marketing needs.

Start using Basecode Email Marketing Solutions today.

What is a Bulk Email Service?  

A bulk email service allows you to send the same message to a large group of people at once. It’s like a digital version of a postal service, delivering messages to many recipients with just a click.

Often referred to as mass email services, these platforms provide various tools to make it easier to manage email lists, create engaging email content, and track the performance of your campaigns.

Instead of sending emails one by one, you send a single message to hundreds or thousands of people at the same time. The bulk email provider ensures your emails reach the right inboxes. These services are often used for newsletters, sales offers, or company updates.

What’s the difference between mass emails and transactional emails?  

Many companies use both mass emails and transactional emails because they serve different purposes.

Mass emails are sent based on your marketing team’s schedule, either to your entire mailing list or to specific groups. These emails often include newsletters or promotional offers.

On the other hand, transactional emails are triggered by a customer’s action, such as resetting a password or leaving items in their shopping cart. Whether initiated by the customer or the business, the effectiveness of your email system depends on reliable email delivery.

Reasons to Send Bulk Emails  

Wondering if it’s the right time to use bulk email software? Start by asking, “Are we investing in email marketing this quarter or year?”

If the answer is yes, that’s a clear sign it’s time to consider using an email service. Here are specific cases when sending bulk emails makes sense:

• Increased visibility: Like casting a wide net, bulk email services help you reach a large audience, ensuring your message is seen by as many people as possible.

• Cost-effective: Sending bulk emails is much cheaper and quicker than other campaigns, making it efficient for marketers.

• Measurable results: These services provide analytics, allowing you to track open rates, clicks, and conversions to fine-tune your strategy.

• Personalization and segmentation: You can tailor content for different audience groups, leading to better engagement and higher conversion rates.

Here are some common reasons for sending mass emails to your subscribers:

• Sales promotions: Promoting discounts on products or services is easy with mass emails, driving sales quickly.

• Newsletters: If you want to share exclusive content, newsletters are a great way to keep subscribers engaged.

• Product updates: Announce new features or products via email with previews and strong calls-to-action (CTAs) to spark interest.

• Announcements: Whether it’s changes in hours, prices, or services, email blasts are an efficient way to keep your audience informed.

With every email, remember to focus on your goals, know your audience, choose the right time to send, personalise your content, and comply with data protection laws.

Comparison: Best value email marketing tools  

The table below highlights differences between these 12 bulk email service providers. However, a table alone doesn’t provide much detail, so we’ve broken down each option, focusing on key features, target users, and pricing. This way, you can find the best solution for your email marketing needs.

	User ratings	Free plan	Max number of free emails per month	Cost of premium plans	Best for
Zoho Campaigns	4.3/5	✅	6,000	From ₦6,120 /month (2,500 contacts)	Automation, tracking and integrations for businesses of all sizes
Omnisend	4.6/5	✅	500	From $16/month	Advanced email automation for ecommerce brands
Sender	4.4/5	✅	15,000	From $15/month	Small businesses with limited budgets
Brevo	4.5/5	✅	300/day	From $9/month	Businesses looking for an all-round digital marketing solution
AWeber	4.2/5	✅	3,000	From $14.99/month	Simple design and mailing list management
MailChimp	4.5/5	✅	1000	From $13/month	Comprehensive email marketing and automation
Mailjet	4.0/5	✅	6,000	From $15/month	Best for B2B businesses
Mailgun	4.3/5	✅	100/day	From $15/month	Best for custom setup
SendGrid	4.0/5	✅	6,000	From $15/month	Best for marketers looking to improve deliverability rates
HubSpot	4.4/5	✅	2,000	From $20/month	Best all-in-one solution
SendPulse	4.6/5	✅	15,000	From $8/month	Best for online courses
Constant Contact	4.0/5	✅	unknown	From $12/month	Best beginner-friendly marketing platform

Top 10 Best Bulk Email Services  

Below, we breakdown 10 of the best bulk email services with their key features, pros, cons, and pricing.

1. Zoho Campaigns – Best Affordable Mass Email Service with a Focus on Automation  

Zoho Campaigns is part of the Zoho suite, offering a powerful email marketing platform designed for small to large-sized businesses. It integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps, making it a great choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one ecosystem. Zoho Campaigns focuses heavily on automation, allowing users to create personalised workflows to nurture leads and engage customers effortlessly. You can also decide to go for the Zoho Marketing Automation software.

Key Features

• Pre-built email templates and drag-and-drop editor

• Advanced automation with workflows and autoresponders

• Segmentation and personalization based on user behaviour

• Seamless integration with Zoho CRM and other Zoho apps

• Real-time analytics and performance tracking

• A/B testing for subject lines and content

Pros

• Affordable for small and growing businesses

• Excellent automation tools to streamline campaigns

• Tight integration with the Zoho ecosystem, especially Zoho CRM

• Offers email, SMS, and social media campaign options

Cons

• Some users find the interface a bit complex

Pricing
Zoho Campaigns offers a flexible pricing structure. Its Free plan allows for up to 2,000 contacts and 6,000 emails per month. The Standard plan starts at ₦1,440 per month, depending on the number of contacts, offering automation, segmentation, and reporting features. For businesses needing more advanced features, the Professional plan begins at ₦1,800 per month, offering A/B testing, advanced automation, and integration with Zoho CRM.

Try Zoho Campaigns for Free in the next 14 days.

2. Omnisend – Best mass email service for ecommerce  

Omnisend is designed specifically for ecommerce businesses, offering unique features that many other platforms lack. One standout feature is the Product Recommender, which automatically adds new or popular items to your emails if your store is on a compatible platform.

Omnisend provides a user-friendly interface with tools for email, push notifications, and SMS, available worldwide. It shines in automation, offering pre-built templates for workflow automation, emails, and forms to help you get started quickly. Success stories like 123 Presets doubling its revenue and The Cake Store seeing 32x higher conversion rates show how effective Omnisend is at helping ecommerce brands grow.

Despite its powerful features, Omnisend remains affordable. Its Free plan is available without a trial, includes all features, and offers 24/7 customer support. Paid plans start at $16 per month.

Key Features

• Simple drag-and-drop email builder with ecommerce-focused elements

• Pre-built templates for emails and forms

• Pre-built automation workflows

• Advanced automation capabilities

• Segmentation and personalization based on behaviour, demographics, and custom data

• 130+ integrations

Pros

• Easy to use

• Workflows combine email, SMS, and push notifications

• SMS available worldwide

• 24/7 customer support

• Tailored for ecommerce with features designed to boost sales

Pricing
The Standard plan starts at $16 per month, while the Pro plan begins at $59 per month.

Check out some of the Best ERP software for Ecommerce and Retail Businesses

3. Sender – Best mass email service for startups and small businesses seeking   

Sender is a budget-friendly email marketing service that offers a generous free plan and excellent customer support, even for free users. Designed for beginners, its user-friendly interface makes creating and sending emails simple and effective.

The drag-and-drop email builder, along with responsive templates, allows you to create professional-looking emails in minutes, whether you’re at a desk or on the go. Sender also helps you capture leads with popups, segment your audience, and deliver personalised content through email and sms marketing automation. With live reporting and a newsletter heatmap, you can track your campaign’s performance in real time and adjust your strategy to improve results.

Key Features

• Email and SMS marketing automation

• Drag-and-drop email builder with responsive templates

• Advanced segmentation and personalization

• Live reporting and newsletter heatmap

• 24/7 customer support

Pros

• Generous free plan with full automation features

• Responsive templates that work well on all devices

• Real-time analytics for optimising campaigns

• Excellent customer service, even for free users

Cons

• Account can be suspended without prior notice

Pricing
The Standard plan starts at $15 per month. The Professional plan is available at $29 per month. Custom plans are also available for enterprise-level needs.

4. Brevo – Best mass email service for businesses seeking a comprehensive digital marketing tool

Brevo is designed to be an all-in-one solution for small businesses, offering more than just email marketing. It also supports SMS and WhatsApp campaigns, provides live chat and chatbot features, and includes a sales CRM to help manage your pipeline.

Key Features

• Multiple tools for digital marketing beyond email

• Simple subscriber and list management

• Integrates with popular platforms like WordPress, WooCommerce, Shopify, Magento, and more

• Machine-learning-powered A/B testing to optimise email send times

Pros

• Pricing plans based on email volume, with unlimited contacts

• Quick and easy setup

• Supports team collaboration

• Efficient list and tag management for organising contacts

• Strong automation capabilities

Cons

• Human support is only available with paid plans

• Limited selection of email templates

• Support response time can be slow

• May be too complex for some users depending on their needs

Pricing
The Starter plan, starting at $9 per month, allows 5,000 monthly emails. The Business plan starts at $18 per month. For larger organisations, an Enterprise plan is available with tailored solutions.

Need Help with the set up and integration of your digital tools? Reach out to us now.

5. AWeber – Best mass email service for simplifying design and mailing list management

AWeber is a mass email platform that also offers landing page creation. One standout feature is its integration with Canva, allowing you to design professional emails and landing pages directly within AWeber, with access to thousands of free stock images.

Key Features

• Canva integration for easy design and branding

• Drag-and-drop email and landing page builders

• Automated email workflows

• Subscriber segmentation

Pros

• Simple, user-friendly design tools

• Easy email scheduling

• Integration with platforms like Facebook, PayPal, and Shopify

Cons

• Some users find AWeber’s interface overwhelming at first

• The Free and Lite plans have limited features; full access requires the Plus plan

Pricing
The Lite plan starts at $15 per month. The Plus plan starts at $30 per month.

6. Mailchimp – Best for comprehensive email marketing and automation  

Mailchimp is a comprehensive email marketing and automation platform with mass mailing capabilities. While it suits businesses of all sizes, it’s primarily designed for medium and large enterprises due to its pricing structure, which restricts features in the lower-cost plans.

Key features

• GPT-powered AI assistant for generating subject lines and email content

• AI-powered Content Optimizer to analyse successful campaigns and give personalised tips

• Analytics and dashboards

• Integration with over 300 e-commerce and marketing platforms

• Drag-and-drop email builder with pre-designed templates

• Marketing automation tools like Customer Journey Builder and workflows

• A mobile app for adding contacts during live events

Pros

• Easy to upload and manage customer data

• Seamlessly connects with digital marketing channels, including social media

• Strong audience segmentation features

• A/B and multivariate testing

• Simple sign-up form builder for lead generation

Cons

• The interface can be confusing for new users

• Pricing isn’t ideal for individuals or small businesses

• Setting up automated campaigns can be challenging

Pricing
Mailchimp’s pricing is based on the number of contacts. Paid plans include Essentials, Standard, and Premium. Essentials starts at $13 per month for 500 contacts and 5,000 emails. You can select up to 200,000 contacts, with custom pricing available for larger lists.

7. Mailjet – Best Mass Email Service for B2B Businesses Sending Large Campaigns

Mailjet is an email marketing platform designed for mass email campaigns, with features that make team collaboration easy. Its real-time email editor allows multiple users to make changes together. Through a partnership with Sinch, it also supports transactional SMS, enabling global reach.

Key Features

• Built-in automation with ready-to-use workflow and journey templates

• Email list filtering and segmentation

• A/B testing and detailed reporting

• 90+ third-party integrations

Pros

• Easy domain integration setup

• Email verification before bulk sending

• Real-time team collaboration

• Access to live performance data

Cons

• Limited if you need complex workflows involving SMS or push notifications

• The Free plan lacks segmentation and customer support

• Some users find the platform less intuitive

Pricing
The Essential plan starts at $15 per month. The Premium plan starts at $25 per month. For custom needs, a tailored plan is available with pricing upon request.

8. Mailgun – Best Mass Email Service for Custom Setup  

Mailgun is a mass email marketing service designed mainly for developers. Unlike many no-code platforms, it allows you to send emails with just a few lines of code, thanks to its powerful APIs and detailed documentation.

Key Features

• Uses a RESTful API

• Reliable cloud-based SMTP servers

• Inbound email route management and automation

• Tools to track the success of campaigns

Pros

• A strong platform with powerful features

• Supports segmentation, A/B testing, and automation

• Focus on deliverability to ensure emails reach inboxes

Cons

• No free plan available

• Primarily designed for developers, so it may not suit everyone

• Lacks SMS, push messaging, and workflows

Pricing
Mailgun does not offer a free plan but provides a one-month free trial that includes 24/7 support, email tracking, and analytics, along with five days of log retention. The Basic plan starts at $15 per month for up to 10,000 emails. The Foundation plan starts at $35 per month, allowing up to 50,000 emails, while the Scale plan starts at $90 per month for up to 100,000 emails and includes features like send time optimization and live phone support. A Custom plan is also available for larger organizations needing more capacity.

9. SendGrid – Best Mass Email Service for Marketers Aiming to Boost Deliverability Rates  

SendGrid is a robust platform that offers tools for developers and is known for its high email deliverability and round-the-clock tech support. It provides services for transactional emails, automated emails, SMS, WhatsApp, and video messaging.

Key Features

• Integrates easily with your current email system using a flexible API to enhance deliverability

• Real-time analytics to track performance

• Customizable email design and automation templates

Pros

• Can replace in-house email systems

• Supports integration with various platforms

• Offers 24/7 technical support

Cons

• The user interface can be difficult to navigate

• Steep learning curve for new users

• Limited options for customising email templates

Pricing
SendGrid offers two main subscription types: Email API Plans for integrating email into your app or website, and Marketing Campaigns Plans for sending email campaigns and automations. The Email API Plans include an Essentials plan that starts at $19.95 per month. The Pro plan starts at $89.95 per month. For advanced requirements, there is a custom pricing option for the Premier tier. In the Marketing Campaigns Plans, the Basic plan starts at $15 per month. The Advanced plan starts at $60 per month.

10. HubSpot – Best All-in-One Mass Email Service

HubSpot is a comprehensive platform that offers solutions for marketing, sales, and customer service. It includes tools like chatbots, CRM, email marketing, landing pages, social media management, and ad creation—all in one place.

Key Features

• Email marketing with automated workflows

• Built-in CRM for managing contacts

• Signup forms, pop ups, landing pages, and website builder

• Over 1,000 integrations with other platforms

Pros

• Seamless integration with multiple platforms

• Supports marketing, sales, and customer service

• Run email campaigns, manage your website, blog, and sales pipeline all in one place

Cons

• No built-in SMS support

• Pricing can be high for larger teams

Pricing
HubSpot offers a variety of pricing options. For individuals or small teams, the CRM suite has a Starter plan that begins at $20 per month. The Professional plan starts at $800 per month for more advanced needs. For larger businesses, the Enterprise plan starts at $3,600 per month. The Marketing Hub starts at $800 per month, while the Sales Hub begins at $150 per month for businesses. You can also create custom bundles by combining features from different hubs.

Want us to help set up Hubspot and implement Marketing Automation tools for your company? Contact Us

Top Features to look for in Paid or Free Bulk Email Service  

So, you’ve taken a look at the different options available to you, and you are ready to invest in bulk email software. The next question becomes: What features should you prioritise?

We’ve outlined the essential features to look for in a bulk email service. Some may only be available in premium plans, while others are included in basic or free versions.

Here’s a helpful guide on what to consider.

1. Email Segmentation and Personalization    

Segmenting your emails helps ensure that your message reaches the right audience at the right time. Look for bulk email software that allows you to divide your subscriber list based on factors like:

– Location

– Email interaction

– Purchase history

– Subscriber type (e.g., potential customer vs. existing customer)

By segmenting your list, you can increase engagement because the content will be more relevant. Additionally, personalization plays a key role in boosting email interaction and strengthening customer relationships.

2. User Behaviour Tracking  

Tracking performance is, in my opinion, the most important feature to look for in any bulk email service. There’s no point in spending time crafting emails if you can’t measure their success.

Make sure the service allows you to monitor key metrics, such as:

– Open rate

– Unique clicks

– Click-to-open rate (CTOR)

– Clickthrough rate (CTR)

– Unsubscribe rate

– List growth rate

– Bounce rate

Some email platforms with advanced reporting also let you track revenue per subscriber and revenue per email.

3. Drag-and-Drop    

A drag-and-drop tool simplifies email design. With this feature, you can easily pick elements like images, quotes, or buttons from the sidebar and place them anywhere in your email. This helps you save time by letting you quickly arrange and adjust the layout as needed.

4. Design Templates    

If you’re not so great at designing, using templates can be a big help when creating emails. Templates tailored to the type of email you want to send can save time and make sure you’re following best practices. This is especially useful if you’re new to email design. The benefit of a template is that it gives you a solid starting point. You can adjust it to suit your needs, but it provides a reliable framework to build from.

5. Automation    

When growing your email list, automation is key. For example, if you have a content offer and want to send a series of emails to leads after they download it, an automation tool can handle this for you. You can set up which emails will be sent, in what order, and at what intervals.

Once it’s set up, the automation takes over, guiding your subscribers through the buyer’s journey. This hands-off method lets you focus on strategy instead of manually sending emails. Automation simplifies your processes and removes the guesswork.

6. Split Testing    

Split testing, or A/B testing, helps you find out what appeals most to your audience. This is useful if you’re trying to improve open rates and boost conversions. By experimenting with different subject lines and email content, you can see what gets the best results.

7. High Email Delivery Rates    

It can be frustrating to put effort into an email campaign only for it not to reach your subscribers’ inboxes. That’s why it’s important to check the email delivery rates of your provider. Choose a service with delivery rates as close to 100% as possible to ensure your emails actually get through.

Let’s Help you Find and Implement the Best Bulk Email Services that are Affordable  

Whether you’re a small business, an e-commerce brand, or an enterprise, the right platform will enable you to create engaging, personalised campaigns that reach the inbox and resonate with your audience.

Each service has its strengths, from automation and deliverability to integrations and analytics, so it’s important to align your choice with your specific needs and goals. With these top 12 bulk email providers, you can confidently build and execute campaigns that drive results.

But you don’t have to do it alone. We can help you find the perfect bulk email provider for your business, and implement it for you from start to finish. All you need to do is book a free discovery call, and we would be in touch.