When it comes to email marketing software, AWeber and GetResponse stand out as two of the most popular and capable platforms available today. With powerful features for building email lists, creating campaigns, automating workflows, and analyzing results, these tools can help businesses drive more sales through email.
However, choosing the right email marketing platform is crucial—the wrong solution can hamper email deliverability, provide lackluster reporting, or create workflow bottlenecks.
In this in-depth Aweber vs GetResponse comparison guide, we evaluate how the two platforms stack up across the key criteria business owners should consider when selecting an email service provider: market position and popularity, ease of use, customization capabilities, built-in blogging and e-commerce features, SEO functionality, third-party integrations, analytics and reporting
By covering these facets comprehensively for both AWeber and GetResponse, this guide aims to provide the analysis business owners need to determine which platform would be the best fit to achieve their email marketing goals.
1. Understanding the Basics
AWeber was founded in 1998 by Tom Kulzer. With over 250,000 customers, AWeber has become one of the most widely-used email service providers. The platform boasts 4.5 million subscribers across 120,000 active accounts. AWeber holds an 8.2% share of the email marketing market.
Popular AWeber Facebook groups for users include the AWeber Users Group and the AWeber Product Feedback Group.
GetResponse was founded in Poland in 1999 by Simon Grabowski. With over 300,000 active users sending over 10 billion emails per year, GetResponse is one of the largest email marketing platforms globally. GetResponse has captured 5.8% of the email marketing market share.
GetResponse also has an active Facebook community and its page has over 159K followers.
In terms of market share and adoption, both AWeber and GetResponse stand at the forefront of email service providers. However, AWeber edges out GetResponse slightly when it comes to overall size and market penetration.
2. Features and Functionality
Automation
AWeber
AWeber provides robust automation through its Autoresponder sequences. Users can create segmented lists and workflows based on subscriber actions and send timed email series. Pre-built welcome sequences help onboard new contacts.
The platform’s Visual Campaign Builder allows drag-and-drop creation of multi-step broadcast campaigns with options to integrate sign-up forms, surveys, RSS-to-email blog integrations, and more over time-based sequences. Advanced options even allow triggering campaigns based on subscriber engagement metrics.
AWeber’s Flow chart workflows help automate even complex, multi-branch conditional sequences without coding. Over 750 multi-channel integration apps are also available to connect AWeber to other platforms.
Overall, AWeber shines with newbie-friendly Automation options through visual workflow builders while still supporting complex conditional logic for advanced users.
GetResponse
GetResponse provides automation primarily through its Autoresponder and Sales Funnel functionalities. Email marketers can create comprehensive sequences combining welcome emails, broadcasts, forms, and post-click landing pages.
Building sequences is easy with GetResponse’s drag-and-drop editor. Time delays, tags, and conditions add further logic. Interesting 360-degree customer profile visualizations help segment contacts precisely.
GetResponse connects to 700+ apps including top ecommerce platforms. Workflows triggered by site behavior are thus possible. Furthermore, features like Cart Abandonment proactively recover sales from dropping customers.
When it comes to email marketing automation GetResponse packs intuitive Campaign Builder and Shopping Cart Abandonment strengths for creating engaging subscriber journeys with minimal effort.
Winner: GetResponse
With a slight edge in terms of intuitive visual automation and seamless e-commerce connectivity, GetResponse emerges as the winner. GetResponse’s functionality sets simplify creating personalized subscriber journeys targeted to drive engagement and revenue. AWeber however remains an excellent choice too for less complex needs.
Email Templates
AWeber
AWeber provides hundreds of professionally designed email templates across over a dozen categories including signup forms, welcome series, product launches, announcements, holidays, and more.
The template editor makes customizing these templates easy, with a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) interface to tweak elements like images, colors, and blocks. Sections can be added, removed, or reordered quickly.
While sufficient for basic needs, the templates of this email marketing tool may sometimes lag in terms of variety compared to other ESPs. There is also less control over finer design elements relative to codes-based editors.
GetResponse
GetResponse ships with over 500 responsive, mobile-optimized email templates suitable for all major email clients. Categories span lead nurturing, cart abandonment, special promotions, seasonal mailings, and more.
The template editor provides multiple customization options via an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. Backgrounds, fonts, colors, and layouts can be changed easily. GetResponse also allows editing HTML and CSS code directly for advanced personalization.
GetResponse offers greater visual variety in its template library compared to AWeber. The level of design control is also higher, catering to both basic and more advanced needs.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins as the better of the two email marketing services when it comes to email templates, providing wider design variety, easier customization for both basic and advanced users, as well as mobile responsiveness across templates. While AWeber also delivers professionally designed templates, GetResponse simply outshines options and control.
Segmentation
AWeber
AWeber enables segmenting subscriber lists based on profile attributes, engagement metrics, locations, subscription dates, and more. List splitter automation can route subscribers to targeted workflows.
In addition to basic segmentation, AWeber’s Segmentation stimulator helps filter and visualize audience micro-categories using AND/OR conditional logic for multi-layer targeting. Tagged subscriber interactions further enable behavioral messaging.
While sufficient for most needs, AWeber lacks predictive segmentation powered by machine learning. This requires relying on third-party apps for savvier personalization.
GetResponse
GetResponse provides tag-based segmentation allowing the sending of targeted, personalized emails to subscriber groups. 50+ pre-set tags and unlimited custom tags set the foundation.
Beyond tags, user behaviors like email opens, link clicks, etc. can trigger automated workflows with customized messages for each segment. GetResponse’s Predictive Pro tool leverages AI to categorize contacts for more intelligent grouping.
GetResponse edges out AWeber with predictive segmentation capabilities built-in. Granular targeting based on user actions is also possible without extensive configuration.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse emerges as the winner for its easy tagging and automation-based segmentation strategies. The Predictive Pro functionality fueled by AI grants sharper personalization with minimal manual effort. AWeber meets basic segmentation needs but lags on advanced, targeted communication capacities.
Analytics
AWeber
AWeber delivers core analytics like open rates, click rates, bounce rates, and subscriber engagement tracking over custom date ranges. Marketers can view graphs and charts depicting campaign performance. Data can also be extracted into CSV/Excel formats for further processing.
Useful extras include A/B testing features to compare subject lines or content variants. Heatmaps provide visibility into design elements users clicked the most inside a message.
However, AWeber needs more advanced analytics functionality expected from modern software. There are no predictive modeling capacities to estimate campaign performance pre-send. Multi-channel analytics tracking subscriber journeys across channels is missing. Segmentation insights are also limited.
GetResponse
GetResponse’s analytics dashboard reveals key metrics like open/click rates, unsubscribe numbers, social sharing, link clicks, and more for each campaign. Users get graphical performance histories plus campaign and list-specific drill-downs.
Unique extras include real-time campaign analytics to inspect engagement as subscribers interact. An AI assistant highlights trends and anomalies in data, while predictive analytics estimate future performance.
With robust segmentation and reporting by subscriber attributes, users can pinpoint markets precisely. Multi-channel tracking is enabled through GetResponse’s connected platforms ecosystem. Extensive export options allow the incorporation of analytics into custom reports.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse undisputedly triumphs over AWeber when it comes to analytics and reporting functionality. While AWeber covers basic campaign statistics sufficiently, GetResponse excels at multi-channel tracking, predictive and AI-powered insights, campaign optimizations, and more – everything today’s data-savvy marketers expect from Email Service Providers.
Unique Features
AWeber
A major advantage AWeber retains is its integrations marketplace with over 750 apps via Zapier. This allows connecting AWeber workflows to important tools like WordPress, WooCommerce, PayPal, Google Sheets, SurveyMonkey, and hundreds more.
Helpful educational resources guide users on critical best practices around deliverability, inbox placement, writing engaging emails, and more. However, AWeber often lags in launching the latest innovations. Access to advanced features like predictive analytics or segmentation requires upgrades.
GetResponse
GetResponse ships with SMS and web push notification capacities to reach subscribers in real time via channels beyond email. Dynamic content tags let marketers personalize message parts using subscriber info like names, interests, etc.
An intriguing vCard feature creates shareable online business cards from emails to encourage referrals. Predictive lead scoring also identifies high-value prospects for well-targeted nurturing campaigns.
GetResponse appears to take the lead in rolling out innovations aligned with evolving marketing practices while meeting rising customer expectations. Interesting examples include built-in chatbot integrations, goal-based email campaign templates, and webinar functionalities.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse emerges as the clear winner for its commitment to constantly expanding capabilities to the evolving needs of modern marketers. From supporting multiple channels to integrating new technologies like AI, GetResponse edges out AWeber regarding cutting-edge feature sets.
3. Ease of Use
AWeber
AWeber provides an intuitive user interface allowing easy access to key email campaign creation and management functions. Menu layouts are clean with logical groupings of lists, broadcasts, automation, reporting, etc.
The platform is beginner-friendly with handy walkthroughs explaining core capabilities. Drag-and-drop campaign builders make creating sign-up forms, broadcasts, and sequences very simple.
For advanced personalization, some learning may be needed to leverage features like segment filters, split campaigns, and integration with other apps. But overall, AWeber simplifies email marketing for users at any skill level.
GetResponse
GetResponse ships with a visually appealing, uncluttered dashboard highlighting essential metrics and workflows. Core functions can be accessed upfront for fast campaign creation.
Handy guides help onboard new users explaining settings and best practices. Pre-built templates and intuitive drag-and-drop workflow builders require no coding skills for basic tasks.
Some learning is needed to optimize complex automation, build segments using tags and filters, or integrate certain third-party apps. But GetResponse overall enables even beginners to create professional emails rapidly.
Winner: Tie
Both AWeber and GetResponse stand on par when it comes to usability with clean, intuitive user interfaces, handy learning resources, and visual workflow builders needing no technical skills. For most basic email marketing needs, either platform can be easily leveraged even by beginners.
4. Email Deliverability
AWeber
AWeber leverages proprietary deliverability technology and relationships with major ISPs to achieve industry-leading inbox placement rates. Over 97% of AWeber emails reach the inbox.
Useful tools are available to diagnose and resolve deliverability issues like blacklisting, spam folder tagging, or blocked IPs. Comprehensive deliverability guides also help craft engagement-focused emails.
For further assurance, AWeber provides a Deliverability Promise guaranteeing subscribers will receive emails, or the service fees will be refunded.
GetResponse
GetResponse also invests heavily in deliverability, achieving over 99% inbox reach on average. Custom components like the Smart Suppression List prevent spam.
Interesting extras are real-time alerts when delivery issues occur. Dedicated deliverability consultants provide 1-on-1 email auditing and inbox placement optimizations as well.
GetResponse also shares detailed guides on improving deliverability through careful list building, email content, sending practices, etc.
Winner: GetResponse
With client inbox reach percentages slightly higher compared to AWeber, GetResponse emerges as the winner for email deliverability. GetResponse also provides proactive deliverability consulting services for guaranteed performance. Both platforms however are exemplary in enabling inbox access.
5. Customer Support and Community
AWeber
AWeber provides email support, live chat, phone assistance, and an extensive library of FAQs and tutorials for troubleshooting issues. Support guides explain key concepts while webinars demonstrate best practices.
However, support response times can occasionally be slow during peaks. Phone assistance is also restricted to higher-tier pricing plans.
GetResponse
GetResponse offers 24/7 email support, live chat, and phone assistance across all its paid plans. Interesting extras are 1-on-1 coaching with email marketing experts and product walkthroughs for personalized guidance.
GetResponse Customer Success Managers further assist users to leverage the platform fully and achieve goals faster.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse pulls ahead of AWeber regarding customer support and community, with additional assistance channels like 1-1 coaching. Active social forums and individual Customer Success Managers also foster vibrant user interactions and guidance.
6. Integrations
AWeber
AWeber integrates with over 750 external apps via Zapier like MailChimp, SurveyMonkey, Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, Slack, PayPal, and more. This allows connecting key software tools across marketing, e-commerce, and productivity needs.
Useful native integrations exist for web platforms like WordPress, WooCommerce, and Squarespace. Microsoft and Google suites sync for access to subscriber details within office software interfaces too.
However, despite a vast third-party integrations marketplace, AWeber natively lacks several advanced automation capacities. Built-in webinar tools, custom APIs, and chatbots require add-ons or upgrading to pricier payment plans.
GetResponse
GetResponse delivers 700+ integrations with CRMs, analytics, payments platforms, and popular apps like Facebook, Microsoft Dynamics, and Salesforce. Custom one-click flows also connect GetResponse to email clients, chat, and scheduling tools.
Interesting extras are native integration support for GoToWebinar, Facebook Lead Ads, and an API connector for building custom links. GetResponse also provides chatbot, forms, and landing page builder features without needing third-party tools.
This breadth of in-built functionalities minimizes dependence on add-ons for essential needs. GetResponse focuses on an end-to-end suite limiting requirements for external capabilities.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse emerges as the clear winner for its wider range of natively supported integrations spanning CRMs, analytics, calendars, and office productivity suites. With fewer external tools required thanks to built-in webinars, APIs, and chatbots – the email marketing service provider offers a more self-sufficient ecosystem.
7. Pricing
AWeber
AWeber pricing is based on the number of subscribers on your list. There’s a free plan that lets you get started sending emails to up to 500 subscribers.
Paid plans start at $12.50 per month for the Lite plan which comes with unlimited subscribers. The cost per subscriber goes down as the list size increases. The Plus plan costs $20/month and includes unlimited email lists and landing pages.
Advanced features like split testing, segmented broadcasts, and API access are included in all plans. The Unlimited plan costs $899/month and is ideal for lists over 100,000 subscribers.
Overall, AWeber is affordably priced for smaller businesses but grows expensive handling over 2,500 subscribers or needing multiple advanced automations and integrations.
GetResponse
GetResponse pricing begins at a cheaper $15.60/month billed yearly for 1,000 subscribers. More expensive tiers unlock additional tools like landing pages, priority support, and webinar capacities.
The software doesn’t offer a free account. Useful extras are 30-day free trials across all plans. Large-scale enterprises can also request custom quotes for better rates managing huge subscriber volumes.
Compared to AWeber, GetResponse costs remain affordable even for sophisticated needs like automation workflows and integrations supporting tens of thousands of contacts. Value is thus higher through the customer lifecycle.
Winner: GetResponse
With cheaper entry-level plans and large-scale enterprise pricing, GetResponse beats AWeber regarding value for money across needs – from small startups to established businesses managing extensive subscriber bases.
8. Reviews and Reputation
AWeber
With over 250,000 customers globally, AWeber enjoys widely positive reviews for its easy-to-use email marketing capabilities helping small businesses grow.
Users highly rate the intuitive drag-and-drop builder, segmentation features, and educational resources. Review platforms like Capterra, PCMag, and G2 award AWeber high ratings for usability.
Potential weaknesses occasionally called out are its pricing becoming expensive for larger contact lists and its lack of more advanced, built-in automation compared to rivals.
But largely, AWeber’s industry standing shines as a trusted email marketing leader perfect for simplifying email while needing some add-ons for more complex workflows.
GetResponse
GetResponse draws praise as an all-in-one marketing suite beyond just email – with strong analytics, landing pages, forms, chatbots, and affordable pricing suiting small business needs.
Reviewers on TrustRadius, Gartner, and other platforms give GetResponse high ratings for delivering on core email marketing expectations while expanding capacities through an integrated platform.
Some limitations raised in reviews are the potential for overly complex workflows to overwhelm beginners. Occasional complaints exist about support response times as well.
However, the overall reputation remains very strong for GetResponse among users as a leading consolidated email and digital marketing provider enabling impactful campaigns.
Read GetResponse Reviews on G2.
Winner: Tie
Both AWeber and GetResponse continue holding reputations as trusted email marketing tools – especially among small and mid-sized businesses. Each platform has specific strengths users highlight along with some weaknesses identifying areas of improvement. But on overall satisfaction, both rate well as easy-to-use solutions.
9. FAQ’s
AWeber FAQs
- What features does AWeber offer?
AWeber provides a wide range of email marketing features like customizable templates, autoresponder workflows, sign-up forms, basic analytics, and integrations with many third-party platforms. - Does AWeber have a free trial?
Yes, AWeber offers a 30-day free trial to test out features before subscribing. - Is AWeber easy to use?
With an intuitive drag-and-drop editor and handy guides, AWeber simplifies essential email marketing capacities even for beginners. However, some advanced features have steeper learning curves. - Does AWeber enable sales funnels?
While AWeber lacks built-in sales funnel building, its templates, workflows, and integration with landing page apps effectively support basic sales funnel creation. - Is AWeber suitable for e-commerce businesses?
Yes, AWeber provides the segmenting and automation tools e-commerce stores need for campaigns like abandoned cart recovery while integrating smoothly with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.
GetResponse FAQs
- What features does GetResponse offer?
GetResponse offers full lead generation and marketing automation capabilities beyond just email – like sales funnels, landing pages, forms, chatbots, webinars, and powerful analytics. - What is GetResponse’s deliverability rate?
GetResponse achieves industry-leading inbox placement rates of over 99% ensuring optimal audience reach. Useful deliverability monitoring tools also assist with troubleshooting. - Can GetResponse integrate with my e-commerce store?
Yes, GetResponse seamlessly integrates with all major e-commerce platforms enabling targeted email and SMS campaigns based on customer interactions. - Is GetResponse GDPR compliant?
GetResponse is fully GDPR compliant allowing easy export of contacts, removal from lists, and consent collection as mandated under the EU GDPR. - Does GetResponse have a free trial?
GetResponse allows trying any paid plan risk-free for 30 days via its free trial allowing testing features before subscribing.
Final Thoughts
Choose AWeber if…
AWeber works best for smaller businesses focused purely on email marketing fundamentals like broadcasts and basic automation. Its simple yet powerful email capabilities make it easy for first-timers to master email marketing campaigns. AWeber also suits marketers who mainly need an ESP to integrate into their other platforms as their hub.
Choose GetResponse if…
GetResponse is the best fit for small firms who want a consolidated marketing and sales platform beyond basic email. With lead gen landing pages, analytics, chatbots, and webinars unified into one suite, GetResponse minimizes the need for multiple tools. Teams who value easy future expansion also benefit as needs grow.
Choosing the right email marketing service is crucial for creating effective campaigns that drive business goals. We urge readers to assess core priorities for their email marketing as the first step and encourage posting questions so we can guide you toward the best solution.