Choosing the right tool for automated drip email campaigns can be confusing. There are so many platforms claiming to be the best! But here’s the truth — the right software can save you hours, boost your sales, and help your business grow on autopilot.
Drip email campaigns are powerful because they send personalized emails automatically. Once set up, they keep engaging your audience — even while you sleep. Whether you’re selling products, running online courses, or growing your audience, automation does the hard work for you.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best tools for drip email campaigns. You’ll see what makes each platform unique, their pricing, features, and who they’re best suited for. By the end, you’ll know exactly which tool is the right fit for your business.
What Are Drip Email Campaigns?
Drip email campaigns are automated emails sent over time, based on a set schedule or customer actions. You create them once, and the system takes care of the rest.
Imagine it like watering a plant — you don’t dump all the water at once. You nurture it gradually. In the same way, drip campaigns send messages step by step, keeping your audience engaged and moving them closer to a purchase or action.
Overview: Best Drip Email Campaign Tools
Here’s a quick look at the top tools and who should use them:
- GetResponse: All-in-one with webinar hosting.
- Mailchimp: Easiest to learn and use.
- Brevo: Unlimited free contacts.
- ActiveCampaign: Advanced automation + CRM.
- SendGrid: Simple 3-step setup.
- Klaviyo: Customer insights + personalization.
- SparkPost: Handles massive scale.
- Mailgun: API-based automation.
- Omnisend: Multi-channel automation for online stores.
Why Drip Emails Matter for Your Business
Most people need to hear from you multiple times before they make a purchase. Studies show that each follow-up email boosts sales by about 10%. However, stop after five or six emails, or people may become annoyed.
Drip campaigns let you:
- Send the right message at the right time
- Personalize each email for different customers
- Automate repetitive tasks
- Save hours of your time
- Reach more people with less work
- Track what works and what doesn’t
Check Before Choosing Email Software
Easy to Use
You shouldn’t need tech skills to create campaigns. The software should feel simple and intuitive. Look for tools with drag-and-drop builders, not complicated coding.
Smart Organization Tools
Good software lets you organize contacts into groups. You can separate them by location, purchase history, or behavior. This means your emails match what customers actually want.
Powerful Automation Features
Real automation handles two types of actions:
- Time-based emails: Send an email 3 days after signup, then 7 days later, then 14 days later
- Behavior-based emails: Send an email after someone buys, clicks a link, or abandons their cart
Excellent Delivery Rates
Your emails must actually reach people’s inboxes. Choose software that verifies your email address and follows delivery best practices. They should support DKIM, SPF, and DMARC authentication.
Strong Reports and Analytics
You need clear numbers showing what happens. Look for open rates, click rates, bounces, and conversion tracking. Real-time reports help you improve faster.
Connects with Your Other Tools
Great software links to your CRM, landing page builder, and other apps. This keeps everything organized in one place.
Best Tools for Automated Drip Email Campaigns
Now let’s dive deeper into each platform. You’ll find detailed features, pricing, and why each one stands out. Pick the one that matches your goals and budget.
GetResponse: Best for Course Creators
GetResponse works best for course creators and webinar hosts. It’s an all-in-one marketing platform that includes powerful email tools along with built-in webinar hosting.
Cool Features:
- Webinar hosting built in
- Landing page builder
- Sales funnel tools
- Pre-made templates
- Great customer support
Pricing:
- Free: 2,500 emails monthly
- Email Marketing: $19/month
- Marketing Automation: $59/month
- E-commerce: $119/month
Also Read: Brevo vs GetResponse: Which Has Better Automation?
Mailchimp: Best for Beginners
Mailchimp is great for beginners or anyone running simple email campaigns. It’s easy to learn, intuitive, and perfect if you’re just starting with email marketing.
Cool Features:
- Free plan with good limits
- AI-powered email writing
- Mobile app included
- Easy audience segmentation
- Great templates
Pricing:
- Free: 1,000 emails to 500 contacts
- Essentials: $13/month
- Standard: $20/month
- Premium: $350/month
Brevo: Best for Budget-Conscious Teams
Brevo suits budget-conscious teams. It offers unlimited free contacts and affordable pricing, making it a smart choice for startups and small businesses.
Cool Features:
- Unlimited contacts on the free plan
- Free automation included
- SMS marketing available
- CRM tools built in
- Great for beginners
- Affordable paid plans
Pricing:
- Free: Unlimited contacts, 300 emails daily
- Starter: $20/month for advanced features
- Business: $300/month for premium tools
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Read Our Brevo review: Brevo (Sendinblue) Review: Budget-Friendly Email & SMS Tool for Startups
ActiveCampaign: Best for Marketing Pros
ActiveCampaign is made for marketing experts and power users who want deep automation and CRM integration. It’s packed with features for advanced email workflows and lead tracking.
Cool Features:
- Visual automation builder
- Built-in CRM tools
- AI data collection
- Integrates with HubSpot
- Advanced reporting
Pricing:
- Starter: $15/month
- Plus: $49/month
- Pro: $79/month
- Enterprise: $145/month+
SendGrid: Best for Simple Automation
SendGrid keeps drip campaigns super simple. Set up happens in just three steps. It handles email marketing basics really well without overwhelming complexity.
Cool Features:
- Beginner-friendly setup
- Great email editor
- A/B testing tools
- Clear segmentation
- Excellent for testing
Pricing:
- Free: 6,000 emails monthly
- Basic: $15/month
- Advanced: $60/month
Klaviyo: Best for E-commerce Brands
Klaviyo caters to e-commerce retailers who want strong customer insights and personalization. It helps online stores send highly targeted and data-driven campaigns.
Cool Features:
- Detailed customer profiles
- Dynamic content blocks
- Advanced reporting with benchmarks
- Product recommendations
- Free plan available
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 250 contacts
- Email: Starting at $20/month
- Email + SMS: Starting at $35/month
SparkPost: Best for Large Volume
SparkPost is built for high-volume senders using SMS or WhatsApp. It’s designed to handle massive scale while maintaining reliability.
Cool Features:
- AI-powered automation builder
- SMS and WhatsApp support
- Advanced segmentation
- Handles huge volumes
- Great customer service
Pricing:
- Free: 500 emails monthly
- 50,000: $20/month
- 100,000: $30/month
- High volume: Custom pricing
Mailgun: Best for Developers
Mailgun is best for developers and large enterprises. It provides API-based automation for complete control and flexibility over your email system.
Cool Features:
- Well-documented API
- Powerful email verification
- WordPress plugin
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
- Developer-friendly
Pricing:
- Free: 100 emails daily
- Basic: $15/month
- Foundation: $35/month
- Scale: $90/month
Omnisend: Best for Online Stores
Omnisend is ideal for e-commerce brands that want to combine email and SMS marketing. It offers strong multi-channel automation, making it perfect for online stores that want to boost customer engagement.
Cool Features:
- Pre-built automation workflows
- Multi-channel marketing (email, SMS, push notifications)
- Connects with Shopify and WooCommerce
- 24/7 customer support
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 500 emails per month
- Standard: $16/month for up to 6,000 emails
- Pro: $59/month for unlimited emails
Final Thoughts
The best automated drip email campaign software works smoothly without complications.
Pick the tool that matches your skill level and budget. Test it first with a free plan. Start small with one campaign. Watch what works, then build upon it.
Email automation doesn’t have to be complicated. The right tool makes it simple, fast, and effective. Your future self will thank you for setting up automation today.
