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AWeber has been and continues to be one of the leaders in the realm of email marketing.
It is one of the platforms that cover all the bases. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will most likely find what you need.
Nonetheless, if you are just starting out in email marketing, you may be wonder just how good could this platform be and if it’s right for you.
So in this review, we will go through all the key features and the pros and cons of using Aweber.
What is Aweber?
AWeber is hand down one of the most popular and well-known email marketing platforms on the market.
It is an all-in-one platform that gives you everything from autoresponders to email campaigns. to integrations.
One of the things that attracted me the most is just how beginner-friendly the platform is with its great drag-and-drop features.
The company now has over 120,000 users that swear by them and their customer service.
Their email marketing features have made small businesses and bloggers very happy for several years.
So to better understand how AWeber works, you need to understand what email marketing is.
What is Email Marketing?
Email marketing is a broad term used to define the act of doing marketing campaigns via email.
I have talked about the importance of having an email list before and the reason is because of email marketing.
With all of today’s technology and social media, email is still one of the most powerful ways to reach people.
If you think emails are irrelevant, think again.
I mean, try signing up for any service nowadays without an email address and then come back to me.
It is one of the few ways that you can grow a personal connection with your customers, clients, and subscribers.
So with AWeber, you can do massive outreaches and send emails to hundreds or even thousands of people on your list without having to do it manually.
Imagine how much time it would take to make an email campaign and send it to 5 000 customers…manually.
Not fun.
This is where products like AWeber can help you out.
Now that you have gotten a better idea of what email marketing is, let’s get into how much you will have to break the bank for it.
Aweber Pricing- How much will it cost you?
The first thing to note is that Aweber can be completely free for you.
If you have a list that is under 500 subscribers, AWeber is letting you use their platform free of cost. You can access the free version here.
That is a major added bonus especially if you are a beginner. You will be able to test the waters first before you make any major decisions.
After you pass 500 subscribers (or if you decide to upgrade to a pro version) the price per month starts at $19.00
However, if you decide to pay annually (meaning you pay for the entire year) they will give you 19% off so you end up paying around $16 per month instead.
That is the price of the pro version for anyone who has up to 500 subscribers.
But what will it cost if you have more? Let me show you:
Plan | Price Per Month | Annual Price (Paid monthly) |
---|---|---|
Free | $0 | $0 |
0-500 (Pro) | $19.99 | $16.15 |
501-2,500 | $29.99 | $26.15 |
2,501-5,000 | $49.99 | $46.15 |
5,001-10,000 | $69.99 | $66.15 |
10,001-25,000 | $149.99 | $146.15 |
25,000+ | $200.99 | $197.15 |
As much as we have found there may be a threshold for lists that are 100,000+ plus, however, you will still need to contact Aweber and ask as it hasn’t been confirmed.
What is Aweber Used For?
AWeber is full of features that can help you start your email marketing campaigns.
Some are more basic whereas others are more advanced with a slight learning curve but their customer service is ready to help you if you need it.
So let’s get into some of the key features that are important for you to decide if this is the right platform for you.
Awebers Top 5 Features: Overview
Creating Emails and Campaigns
Once you have your account set up, it is fairly easy to import your email list and start a campaign in AWeber.
The importation process is surprisingly easy and hassle-free.
You can choose to segment your list into different categories with tags (like subscriber, VIP client, Long-time customer, etc.)
This makes this so much easier for you to be able to not only know who your subscribers are but also where you got them from.
How you create those segments and what you name them are completely up to you.
Trust me, the last thing you want to do is mix up a subscriber who wanted a freebie digital product with a subscriber who wants your coaching services.
Organisation is KEY in email marketing.
Autoresponder Function
Autoresponders can be very intimidating.
In fact, they are one of the most intriguing parts of email marketing.
Setting up an autoresponder is basically just making sure that every time someone does some kind of action on your page or shop, they receive some form of an email corresponding to that action.
So quick example, if you click on the campaign below and write your email, you will receive a list of 15 FREE tools that are essential for online content creators.
AWeber’s Autoresponder tool is one of their most popular features.
You can send emails automatically at certain times of the day, in different intervals, and sent specific emails to visitors based on the action they made on the page.
Have you ever gotten one of those “You didn’t finish making your purchase” emails after you put something in your cart and then exited without buying?
That is an autoresponder email.
The possibilities with this are literally endless. You can send welcome emails, newsletters, special offers, new products, and so much more.
However, depending on the plan that you have, the options available to trigger your emails based on the actions of your views may be a little limited.
So keep that in mind.
Aweber Integrations
Integrating your email marketing account with other platforms is very easy with AWeber.
Because of its reputation and how many people use it, it is rare to find a platform that doesn’t allow AWeber integration.
With a simple API number, you can integrate with over 800 other platforms with little to no hassle at all.
Here is a shortlist of some of the most popular integrations:
- PayPal
- Shopify
- WordPress
- GoTo Webinar
- Google Analytics
- Magento
- Salesforce
- WooCommerce
- Unbounce
- ClickFunnels
- Freshbooks
- OptinMonster
On some of these platforms, you will have widgets that you will need to download on the platform. For the others, it will mostly involve adding a snippet of code onto your website.
Drag-and-Drop Email Editor
If you are not used to doing layouts and designs, then coming up with a good appearance for your email campaigns can be very time-consuming.
The drag-and-drop editor that is in AWeber is another reason why they are so popular. It is very beginner-friendly and easy to use.
You can easily set up your campaign in a matter of minutes.
You simply chose what you want from the toolbar and drag it onto your workspace.
After that, you will be able to customize the layout of your email.
Even if this is a very popular function, I personally think that they should add more templates to give more customization.
But it is in no way a deal-breaker. The editor is still very good.
No experience in HTML, Java, or CSS is needed which is a huge plus.
Customer Support
No matter how good a platform is, problems can still occur. That is when customer service and support and of utmost importance.
Compared to a lot of platforms. AWeber really shines through when it comes to the support that they give their customers.
They give you three different channels that you can use to get into contact with them:
- phone
- chat
The quickest way to contact Aweber is actually through chat. The live chat and email channels are open around the clock.
If you are new to the platform or email marketing in general, this easy access to support is going to be KEY for your success.
However, customer service is actually only one part of their support system.
The other part is the materials that they give to their customers to help them grow online.
They have webinars, a knowledge base, tons of video tutorials, and weekly blogs that they offer to help you on your online journey.
On top of that, if you feel like you need extra help setting your system up, you can hire an expert that will give your personal assistance.
Aweber Landing Pages
Building a good landing page is essential for any online business.
If you know of platforms like ClickFunnels, then you know how expensive landing pages can get.
AWeber allows you to build landing pages right on the platform, with or without a website.
You may be wondering what a landing page is so let me briefly explain.
What is a landing page?
To put it simply, a landing page (or a squeeze page) is any page that your customer or subscriber lands on first.
It is the page that introduces the customer to your platform.
They usually have some kind of form and some images that will captivate the viewer.
If you are a blogger or website owner, then any of your blog posts or pages can technically be landing pages as well since this is where your reader found you first.
However, you can also make dedicated landing pages when you have marketing campaigns. These pages are usually designed to get an action from the reader.
It can be leaving their email, buying a product, writing a review, or whatever else you need from them.
You will design the landing page so that whoever comes on to it will be pushed to do that one action.
How to Build a Landing Page with Aweber
The Landing Pages feature is fairly new on Aweber.
The builder is very easy to use and provides you with some templates and stock images that you can choose to begin with.
If you want designs that are a little more advanced, you can use Canva to come up with your own landing page design.
If you decide to use the AWebers templates, you can select which one you want from the list. Then use the drag-and-drop elements (images, videos, texts, links, etc.) and simply add them or remove them from your space.
If you are using the landing page for sales, then you will be able to add things like Facebook pixels to better track your sales.
I recommend you read the article from Oberlo that explains more about what pixels are and how you can use them for tracking.
Additionally, if you have a domain that you own, you can choose to connect your domain to the landing page that you created.
AWeber provides you with full walkthroughs on their Youtube channel so you can see how to do this step-by-step.
The one downside is that they do not have A/B testing for their landing pages as of now. A/B testing is really essential when it comes to testing out landing pages to see which one gets the most leads or sales.
**Update: AWeber now lets you do “Split Testing” after you have sent out a broadcast to your list. It is important to note that this feature is not available with the free plan. You can read more about it here.
Plus, cookie management just got a little more difficult after all the GDPR regulations came into play for EU residents.
But as of June 24, 2019, Aweber became fully compliant to there should not be any more issues.
Aweber Pros and Cons
It’s finally time to get into the nitty-gritty.
But because I like to be the bearer of good news, we will start off with the good news first.
The Pros of Using Aweber:
Free Plan
This has to be on top because who doesn’t like it when you get something for free?
From experience, I can tell you that the first platform that I used to gain my first few subscribers was 100% free and it made the world of a difference.
It’s because of platforms like AWeber that other giants like GetReponse have also hopped onto the “free plan” train.
Giving small businesses the opportunity to grow their list for free, to begin with, means so much.
This is actually why so many beginners gravitate to the Aweber.
Reasonably Priced
Looking past the completely free plan, the other paid plans are very reasonably priced considering the features that you get.
It doesn’t mean that it is the absolute cheapest.
But it is a bargain for your buck.
Lead Acquisition
If you have a small business, being able to grow your email list is essential. This is the time when you are closest to your customers and readers.
Being able to do that with AWeber’s opt-in and landing pages that you can directly link to your domain is going to be very helpful.
Canva Compatibilty
I am not going to hide that Canva is my absolute favorite design platform in the whole world.
Being able to use Canva to design your campaigns is absolutely amazing. This is something that puts AWeber a little higher on the list compared to other competitors like MailChimp and GetResponse.
Using Canva allows you to have your brand colors and our favorite elements on hand so you can match your emails with the feel and the look of your site and social media platforms.
Great Customer Support
AWeber gives you 24-hour, round-the-clock customer service and support.
This is not something that you can find anywhere.
I usually judge a company by the quality of its customer service.
Especially towards us “little guys” who don’t own a Fortune 500 company.
With AWeber, you can expect the same quality of service no matter how small your business is.
Integrations
Being able to integrate with over 800 other platforms with little to no hassle is one of the top reasons why AWeber is so well-liked.
Whether it’s via your API number or a simple snippet of code that you need to enter into your header.
Both ways work fast and with ease and cause no disturbance (or lag) on your site.
Call Loop Feature
If you buy an AWeber package, you will get access to a feature they call “Call Loop.”
This function collects the phone numbers of your subscribers and then allows you to send SMS and voice mails to your list.
It is actually a lot more profitable than most people are aware of.
However, make sure that you know the rules that apply when using this feature as there are regulations for it.
The Cons of Using Aweber:
Now on to some of the things that AWeber could be better at.
Unhosted Contacts
Unfortunately, unsubscribed contacts count on your contacts list so you will be billed for them.
That also means that if you have 495 subscribers and 15 un-subscribed people, you will not be able to get the free plan.
A/B Testing on Landing Pages
I mentioned this above a little but it is something important to note.
You will not be able to run A/B testing within the AWeber platform.
So finding out which landing page is working best for you is currently not an option.
**Update: AWeber now lets you do “Split Testing” after you have sent out a broadcast to your list. It is important to note that this feature is not available with the free plan. You can read more about it here.
Segments
If you are sending out a newsletter, you are not able to add or omit several segments at the same time.
So it may take you more time if you have several different categories of subscribers that you want to send your newsletter out to.
AWeber Alternatives
Now that you have gotten a good look at what Aweber can do for you, you may be curious which competitors it has.
There are several different email marketing platforms out there but we are going to look at two in particular:
- GetResponse
- MailChimp
These two are the platforms that come closest to AWeber.
We don’t want to compare apples to oranges now do we?
Another platform that comes pretty close as well is ConvertKit. However, I have no personal experience using it so you can read this article instead if you want a good comparison of the two.
So to make this a fair game, we will be looking at 5 key elements on each platform:
- Email templates
- Importing your contacts
- Integrations
- Customer support
- Pricing
AWeber vs. GetResponse
GetResponse is a giant in the space and a big contender to AWeber. With an approval rate of 83%, it is worth taking a look at.
So let’s see who wins in each category:
1. Email templates
Aweber has great email templates but it really can’t compare to GetResponse. Some of the most beautiful email designs I have made have been with GetResponse.
However, Aweber provides over 700 email templates whereas GetResponse only provides over 500.
But the fact that GetResponse has a built-in image editor takes it over the edge just slightly making it a winner in this category.
Winner: GetResponse.
2. Importing Contacts
Both Aweber and GetReponse allow you to import your contacts fairly easily.
The difference is that GetResponse allows you to import contact data in ODS, XLS, VCF, TXT, and CSV formats.
Aweber lets you import in TXT, CSV, TSV, XLSX, and XLS formats.
Not a huge difference but different nonetheless.
In regard to segmenting your list, Aweber has a dashboard that lets you manage your contacts. However, dividing them into different groups takes a little more time with this tool.
With GetResponse, managing your contacts works almost the same.
However, they allow you to send bulk emails to all of your segments and even let you exclude some segments easily.
This saves a lot of time making GetResponse our winner for this category.
Winner: GetResponse
3. Integrations
Both Aweber and GetReponse give you hundreds of integrations that you can easily work with.
Anything from payment processors to social media tools, to e-commerce plugins, to content management.
Both of these platforms work with all of the big guys and integrate seamlessly.
There is not one that has anything over the other in this category.
Winner: Tie
4. Customer support
GetResponse has 24/7 support available for you in 7 different major languages.
There is, however, no phone support so you will only be able to contact them via email or chat.
But they do have a help center with articles and videos that can help you.
The support team also responds quickly.
Aweber on the other hand offers support via phone, email, and chat. Their phone support is only available during business hours but it is still a great option to have.
Plus they have a full Knowledge Base with articles and tutorials that help you out.
This service has given them a creating och 4.4/5 on Capterra making Aweber our winner in this category.
Winner: Aweber
5. Pricing
On to the most requested comparison: the pricing.
GetReponse give you a free 30-day trial of any of its plans to start off with.
Free trials are a beginner’s best friend so I highly recommend you use them whenever you can.
Up until recently, they didn’t have a free plan and their cheapest plan was $15.
That changed on September 29, 2021, when GetResponse announced that they now are giving a Free Forever plan to anyone with under 500 contacts.
Aweber, however, has had a free plan for years with the experience and customer support to back it up. Not only that, but you have access to almost all of the tools that Aweber has to offer with this free plan.
Even if both have straightforward pricing plans, Aweber is the winner in this category.
Winner: AWeber
AWeber vs. MailChimp
Aweber and MailChimp are both big players in email marketing.
They are also direct competitors that are constantly compared to each other.
I’m going to compare the two in their respective categories, to help you decide which email marketing service is best for you.
1. Email templates
Aweber provides a whopping 700 templates on its platform.
Mailchimp, on the other hand, only has a little over 100.
This is not terrible, Mailchimp definitely needs to work on its templates. It is one of the biggest critiques that they get.
That being said, with MailChimp, you have the possibility to fully model your design from scratch. Every single detail can be edited and changed.
This really helps make up for the lack of templates because the customization is so good that you don’t even need a template.
So for that reason, Aweber takes the win in this round.
Winner: Aweber
2. Importing your contacts
Importing your contact is a very important step when you join a platform.
Both platforms allow you to use several different text formats. You can even copy and paste if you have the energy for it.
Both also require that you map out the fields of each list and separate them accordingly.
However, the difference in these platforms comes with the user experience. The process of importing and segmentation is a lot easier with MailChimp.
Not only that but they have several segmentation options for each plan.
This makes MailChimp the winner of this category.
Winner: MailChimp
3. Integrations
Both of these platforms have an extensive list of integrations with major companies and e-commerce platforms.
However, amazingly enough, MailChimp has a bigger selection of integrations and is even the default for platforms like Shopify and Squarespace.
The reason being that the integration process is a lot smoother with MailChimp. Whereas for Aweber, these platforms require some extra configurations in order to work.
MailChimp also syncs with your Facebook Business Account and will automatically show your ads to new subscribers if you are running a campaign.
These are huge timesavers so MailChimp is the winner of this category.
Winner: MailChimp
4. Customer support
Problems can always come up when you are using these platforms. Both of them have video tutorials and support pages that can walk you through everything you need to get set up.
However, with MailChimp, it feels like they are almost trying to avoid being contacted for customer service support.
They only offer a HelpBot and Email support for the lower-paying plans. It is only after you upgrade to higher plans that you are able to have chat and phone support.
Aweber, on the other hand, provides great customer support right off the bat and provides quick responses making them the winner of this category.
Winner: Aweber
5. Pricing
The best thing about both of these platforms is that they both provide free plans that you can start with to grow your email list.
Aweber gives you a free plan of up to 500 contacts, 3000 emails a month, and includes a 30-day free trial for you to test out their features.
MailChimp offers a free plan for up to 2000 subscribers and 12000 emails per month.
You may think that this automatically makes MailChimp the winner but it doesn’t.
MailChimp’s free plan is a lot more restrictive than Aweber’s free plan.
The fact that Aweber also has a Pay-As-You-Go plan also gives it a bit more of an edge.
So the two balance each other out when it comes to pros and cons making this our only tie.
Winner: Tie
Pricing Comparisons Table: Aweber vs. GetReponse vs. MailChimp
Table comparing cheapest plans for Aweber, MailChimp, and GetResponse.
Aweber | GetResponse | MailChimp | |
---|---|---|---|
Free Plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Cheapest Plan | $19.99 | $15 | $100 |
Contact List | 0-500 | 0-500 | 0-1,000 |
Conclusion:
Aweber is a fantastic tool that really lives up to all the hype that it gets online. Especially considering how beginner-friendly the platform is.
They really make sure that everyone can get access to the essentials that are needed to start growing their online business. No matter what budget you have.
Yes, there are other platforms that have other benefits as well, but if you choose to go with Aweber, then you will not be disappointed.
Their high-quality customer service and support are there when you need help and will give you a quick response.
Aweber is a great platform for beginners to online marketing, small business owners, affiliate marketers, and larger enterprises.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Is AWeber good for email marketing?
Yes. Aweber is great for email marketing.
It provides you with autoresponders and over 800 email templates that you can use to run your email campaigns.
Who should use AWeber?
Anyone who has any kind of online business can consider using Aweber.
Affiliate marketers, small business owners, and larger corporations all use Aweber and have given it very high ratings.
What is AWeber used for?
Aweber is an email marketing platform that online business owners and website owners use to run their email marketing campaigns.
It allows you to create a mailing, and generate leads through marketing campaigns, and send out automated emails to your subscribers.
Which is better: AWeber or ConvertKit?
Both Aweber and ConvertKit provide great email automation and marketing tools.
However, with ConvertKit segmentation is more restricted than it is in Aweber.
Aweber is also cheaper to start out with. The base plan starts at $19 whereas the base plan with ConvertKit starts at $29.
If you take a look at Capterra, you will also see that Aweber has more Top Features.
However, you will also see that ConvertKit has an overall higher rating of 4,6 stars compared to Aweber’s 4,3.
Based on this information, we can say that ConvertKit is better.
Is AWeber free to use?
Yes. Aweber has a completely free plan that you can sign up for.
This plan is only available to people with a contact list of 0-500 subscribers.
With this plan, you will be able to access a good portion of Aweber’s features and start building your email marketing campaigns.
Does AWeber have email?
No.
Aweber is not an email provider like Gmail.
It is an email marketing service provider.
You will need to have your own email and integrate it into the platform in order for your email campaigns to run.
Does AWeber have workflows?
No.
Aweber does not provide you with a workflow like you would find with Drip.
However, you are able to integrate with workflow management software in the Aweber platform.
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