When it comes to email marketing software, GetResponse and Constant Contact are two of the most well-known platforms. Choosing between them can be a difficult decision for small business owners and entrepreneurs – the right platform is critical for connecting with customers and growing your company.
In this comprehensive GetResponse vs Constant Contact comparison, we evaluate the two platforms across a number of key criteria to help you determine the best choice.
We will analyze and contrast features and functionality, ease of use, customization, e-commerce capabilities, third-party integrations, analytics, performance, customer support, pricing, and reviews and reputation. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
1. Understanding the Basics
GetResponse was founded in Poland in 1997 by Simon Grabowski, who still leads the company today. It has over 500 employees and counts small businesses, entrepreneurs, and marketing agencies among its customers in over 183 countries. While GetResponse does not disclose its total number of users, it is considered one of the top email service providers.
Constant Contact was launched in Massachusetts in 1998. The SaaS platform now serves over 600,000 small business customers worldwide. After going public in 2007 and being acquired by Endurance International Group in 2016, Constant Contact continues to focus specifically on meeting the email marketing and engagement needs of small organizations.
Both tools have strong Facebook followings in their respective official pages and user communities:
The longevity, loyal customer bases, and public social media engagement indicate these are top contenders in the email marketing space for small businesses targeting growth. Selecting between them means assessing their distinctive approaches and toolsets side-by-side.
2. Features and Functionality
Automation
GetResponse
GetResponse offers a visual automation builder to create sequences that trigger emails or other actions based on subscriber behavior. Users can easily build sign-up funnels with welcome emails, nurture subscribers based on certain activities with segmentation, and create abandoned cart flows for e-commerce.
The drag-and-drop workflow builder makes it simple to visualize your automation pathways. You can use triggers like date-based, open/click tracking, survey responses, transactions, or custom events through the API or webhooks. Actions include sending emails, adding/removing tags, and integrating with other apps like webinar software.
Advanced options exist too like smart lists that automatically update based on conditions, scheduled newsletters, and RSS-to-email campaigns. GetResponse makes it straightforward even for beginners to create multi-message sequences to turn subscribers into loyal customers.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact takes automation beyond just email with its Behavior-Based Messages capability. Users can set up segmented email campaigns based on engagement and monitor behaviors across channels to activate messaging on Facebook and Google My Business too.
While the UI isn’t quite as intuitive as GetResponse, Constant Contact still enables the creation of multi-step welcome sequences, abandoned cart flows, and conditional content displays. Email content in automation workflows can also be personalized with merge tags adding the subscriber’s first name or location for more targeted messaging.
Setting up date-based triggers is simple, while event-based automation involves a bit more advanced logic configuration akin to IFTTT recipes. Overall though, Constant Contact provides robust options for users of all skill levels to automate engagement touchpoints.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins for its simpler drag-and-drop visual automation builder. Its workflows are more intuitive for beginners to set up while still providing advanced functionality for sophisticated email marketers. GetResponse also offers more flexibility to integrate workflows with other apps.
Email Templates
GetResponse
GetResponse offers hundreds of professionally designed email templates suited for email marketing campaigns of all types. This includes templates for welcome campaigns, holidays, events, e-commerce stores, and more. Users can easily customize colors, images, layouts, and blocks of content without any coding.
The email editor displays how your messages will appear across mobile and desktop apps visually. You can find templates by industry and see customer review scores. Filtering and sorting options help narrow to templates that align with your business messaging.
Hundreds more templates are available with an upgraded subscription plan. GetResponse also has a Template Marketplace with premium themes, sample content, high-quality photos, and complete ready-to-use campaigns for purchase. Overall, it’s simple to implement beautiful, on-brand email templates.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact has over 100 free email templates covering intro emails, events, sales, and even youth sports. Their types are broken down into categories like General Business, Arts and entertainment, Fitness, and more based on common small business industries. In addition to email templates, you also get landing page templates to create unlimited marketing funnels.
The templates feature a responsive design optimized for mobile open rates. Users can customize colors and images right within the email builder. You can also use A/B testing to determine which template designs perform best by comparing open rates.
For e-commerce businesses, Constant Contact integrates with Shopify, Wix, and other platforms to sync product info. But unless you upgrade to a premium plan, the free built-in templates lack some of the inherent personalization and tagging capabilities other tools provide.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins for email templates with its vast library spanning niches and interests. The intuitive editing tools help brands maintain visual integrity across customer touchpoints way beyond basic template customization. Integrations with e-commerce platforms make GetResponse a particularly strong solution for product-based businesses compared to what Constant Contact’s free plans offer.
Segmentation
GetResponse
GetResponse enables both manual and autoresponder segmentation. You can manually sort contacts using tags and lists. Segment subscribers who recently purchased signed up for a webinar, clicked on certain links, etc. Personalize messaging to groups based on these custom tags.
Autoresponder segmentation automatically groups contacts by behaviors like email opens, link clicks, date subscribed, birthday, location, and more. Send targeted content without constant manual tagging and list creation.
Additional options like smart lists automatically add or remove users according to conditions you set. Use them to segment engaged subscribers, exclude unsubscribers, create groups based on specific activities, and more. Overall, GetResponse balances easy manual segmentation with robust auto-segmentation tools.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact equips users to create contact lists manually for segmentation by tags, interests, and other filters. You can also group contacts by location and integrate with your CRM to combine online and offline data for personalization.
Behaviors like email open rates, link clicks, activity dates, and specific actions can be used to trigger automated workflows based on conditional segmentation logic too. The platform makes it fairly straightforward to define distinct user groups for tailored messaging without complex configurations.
While Constant Contact covers the basics of manual tagging and automatic filtering to divide audiences, it lacks some of the more advanced segmentation and automation logic that GetResponse offers out of the box.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins when it comes to segmentation, giving users more advanced options between smart lists, autoresponder workflows, tags, and contact list management. Segmentation on Constant Contact gets the job done, but it’s simpler to divide groups manually or through basic activity-based rules. For sophisticated marketers, GetResponse provides more flexibility for complex segmentation scenarios tailored to niche use cases.
Analytics
GetResponse
GetResponse provides detailed email analytics on opens, clicks, unsubscribes, bounces, sent messages, and more. Charts and graphs visualize campaign performance over time. You can filter analytics by timeframe, campaign type, and other properties to analyze segmented results.
The platform tracks engagement metrics like open and click-through rates compared to your averages and industry benchmarks. GetResponse also integrates Google Analytics for a consolidated view coupling email stats with site traffic and conversion data.
Advanced options include A/B testing email components like subject lines, content, layouts, timing, and recipient groups to optimize performance. Heatmaps visualize user click patterns within sent messages at a granular level too. GetResponse excels at in-depth email and funnel analytics with integrated insights.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact shows basic campaign reports on opens, clicks, forwards, unsubscribes, and bounces over customizable date ranges. Charts indicate how well messages performed compared to others and your account averages.
You can view subscriber engagement outside email as well, including clicks from social posts or Google Business Profile. Data integrations with platforms like Wix and Shopify sync e-commerce order information into your dashboard too. This unified cross-channel analytics approach provides a broader perspective on marketing ROI beyond just email stats.
While Constant Contact covers the important metrics for email success, its campaign diagnostics tools lag behind GetResponse when it comes to the depth of interactive charts, advanced filters, and multi-dimensional segmentation of data for analysis.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins for its best-in-class analytics beating out Constant Contact’s more limited reporting. GetResponse centralizes insights across channels while still going deep on granular email metrics for true multi-touch attribution.
The interactive visualizations provide tremendous flexibility to analyze campaign components and user groups to inform email optimization too. For serious digital marketers, GetResponse delivers vastly more powerful analytics capabilities.
Unique Features
GetResponse
GetResponse stands out for its webinar marketing capabilities beyond basic email. The integrated webinar tool lets you plan online events, customize registration forms and create dynamic embedded forms. Promote via email campaigns, host HD video presentations, track attendance, and follow up with on-demand recordings.
Other unique features include multi-user account options perfect for agencies, priority 24/7 customer support, and an Insights tool that provides tailored strategic advice for improving campaigns. GetResponse also offers free online marketing courses for continued education.
With local agency partners to aid onboarding and worldwide data centers for speed, GetResponse seems structured to help email marketers succeed through planning, execution, and growth resources all in one platform.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact provides logo and brand guide creation tools to easily develop professional brand assets and guidelines that drive visual consistency. Pre-designed logo templates only need minor adjustments.
The platform also creates free location-specific QR codes for brick-and-mortar businesses to use in-store, on packaging, or on menus to facilitate digital connections. Landing pages can even accept payments or reservations.
Finally, Constant Contact uniquely offers live seminars and on-demand classes via its Email Marketing Learning Center. Those just starting out can access deep educational materials on effective email creation, list growth tips, analytics, and more.
Winner: GetResponse
Both email marketing services have a lot to offer, but GetResponse wins for going beyond email marketing with extra capabilities like webinars along with multi-user accounts and advanced agency features.
GetResponse seems more oriented towards power users compared to Constant Contact’s strengths better serving email newbies with basic branding tools and educational resources.
For expanded functionality, GetResponse takes the lead – but Constant Contact nails the email fundamentals.
3. Ease of Use
GetResponse
GetResponse provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy for beginners to pick up quickly. Core features like creating sign-up forms, email campaigns, and automation are accessible in the main menu. Dashboard charts provide visibility into key metrics too.
The visual workflow builder enables anyone to map out multi-step campaigns by clicking and connecting boxes for each action and trigger. GetResponse has also invested heavily in tutorial resources like step-by-step articles, videos, webinars, and guides across every function.
While power users may access more advanced configuration options, GetResponse overall focuses on usability. Contrary to many marketing platforms, novice users can start sending and growing their email lists without a steep learning curve.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact offers an interface with simplicity in mind as well. Core features remain visible and clear in the main navigation without feeling overly crowded for beginners. Drag-and-drop campaign building with template customization keeps the email creation process straightforward too.
However, some of the terminology Constant Contact uses around automation workflows and tracking events may prove confusing for an absolute email marketing beginner. Expect a bit more tinkering to set up things like customer journeys and conditional content display compared to GetResponse.
But for the most basic email-sending needs, Constant Contact certainly delivers an accessible, clean, and recognizable interface. Users just aiming to create and send newsletters shouldn’t face much friction finding their way around.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins for ease of use with a slightly more intuitive interface tailored better for complete beginners. While Constant Contact isn’t difficult, GetResponse focuses its platform design more on usability and simplifying complex functionality like workflows. Superior educational resources also give GetResponse the edge for helping new email marketers ramp up quickly.
4. Email Deliverability
GetResponse
GetResponse takes a number of steps to optimize email deliverability. They continually monitor ISP feedback and spam complaints to identify potentially problematic content. Account scores benchmark deliverability against industry averages too.
Each sent email passes proprietary spam checks analyzing content factors like images, links, and wording. GetResponse also runs authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to verify validity which boosts inbox placement.
For subscribers, a customizable preference center lets people manage their subscriptions, interests, consent options, and contact details to remain engaged. Overall, deliverability sits at the core of this email marketing platform.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact prioritizes deliverability through list management capabilities enabling subscribers to control their preferences and subscriptions. This helps reduce complaints and keeps them engaged.
Each customer also gets a dedicated Deliverability Specialist to monitor account health, provide deliverability training, and offer optimization recommendations tailored to your business. Auditing campaign content for spam triggers is another key service they provide.
However, Constant Contact has faced some deliverability challenges resulting in below-average inbox placement rates compared to top providers. While they are working to improve through special support staff, results have been mixed thus far.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins when it comes to superior email deliverability through both technological and customer-focused approaches. Constant Contact offers helpful personal support but has faced criticism from some clients seeing subpar inbox rates compared to alternatives.
GetResponse builds deliverability capabilities directly into its platform design rather than relying solely on human oversight. For reliability, GetResponse seems better positioned currently to maximize email campaign results.
5. Customer Support and Community
GetResponse
GetResponse prioritizes customer support through 24/7 live chat, email ticketing, and phone assistance. Subscribers can also access an online knowledge base with tutorials, documentation, and FAQs for self-help when preferred.
As a community resource, GetResponse provides both a Facebook User Group with over 25,000 members as well as an exclusive online Customer Club offering training courses, materials, 1:1 expert consulting sessions, networking events, and incentives.
Between always-available multilingual technical support, detailed help documentation, engaged social channels, and a networked community of users, customers have tremendous resources to find answers or connections when questions come up.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact offers customer support over email and chat during extended US business hours instead of around-the-clock assistance. Phone support requires a premium paid membership for access. The help center knowledge base provides ample tutorials and troubleshooting content as well.
In terms of community, users can follow the Constant Contact Small Business Solutions Facebook page with an engaged following. While some discussions happen in user posts, Constant Contact does not host an official user community beyond its social media presence.
So for technical issues or platform questions, contacting their own customer support remains the best recourse over leaning on other customers. Their focus stays on 1:1 troubleshooting rather than fostering a broader user community.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse emerges as the winner for customer support and community by providing not only responsive real-time multi-channel assistance but also a wide range of learning materials coupled with inclusive user communities there to help each other thrive. Constant Contact relies solely on its in-house help resources. So if you want always-on support or value user connections, GetResponse differentiates itself markedly as the superior choice.
6. Integrations
GetResponse
GetResponse connects with over 1,000 external apps and services including leading platforms like WordPress, Shopify, Facebook, Zapier, and Salesforce. Integrations make it easy to manage contacts, sync channel data, incorporate email sign-up forms, track e-commerce sales, and automate multi-platform workflows.
Standout integration examples include webinar tools like GoToWebinar, EverWebinar, and Demio to capture leads; e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and PrestaShop to track customer purchases; plus analytics through Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, and Apple Search for consolidated performance insights.
Whether you want to embed forms, build automation, monitor analytics, or funnel data between platforms, GetResponse aims for seamless connectivity. The integration marketplace enables customers to browse apps by category to bolster email marketing capabilities too.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact integrates with 30+ commonly used small business platforms across functions like email capture, e-commerce, scheduling, surveys, payments, and marketing data. Partners include Wix, Eventbrite, PayPal, Stripe, Gravity Forms, SurveyMonkey, and more.
The platform focuses specifically on tools most used by small teams rather than technical software leveraged by agencies or enterprises. Key capabilities center around contact list growth, event promotion, customer tracking, and lead collection through website and payment portal tools above extensive cross-channel workflow automation leveraging CRMs, custom APIs, etc.
So for core small business software outside in-depth analytics and campaign functionality, Constant Contact covers critical abilities to capture subscribers and drive revenue through its targeted integrations.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse emerges as the winner for its vast app integration marketplace enabling seamless connections both broadly and deeply across 1,000+ marketing, sales, and analytics platforms. Constant Contact takes a narrower approach focusing on beginner email marketers’ top needs.
So for extensive cross-channel functionality beyond basic email, GetResponse provides the flexibility power users need through an integrated ecosystem unmatched by simpler tools like Constant Contact.
7. Pricing
GetResponse
GetResponse offers 4 paid plans based on the number of contacts, from 1,000 up to unlimited. Their rates range from $15.60 – $999/month when billed annually.
The Starter plan includes basic features like surveys, pop-ups, and basic reporting. The Max plan unlocks all advanced features and automation. Volume discounts are available.
GetResponse pricing corresponds to robust capabilities suited for larger lists and sophisticated campaigns. It provides strong value for established businesses with more complex needs. But may prove cost-prohibitive for smaller brands.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact provides 3 primary tiers and a free trial that lets you send to 500 contacts. The Lite email plan is $12/month for up to 500 contacts with additional features like the marketing CRM, event management tools, and social marketing features.
The Standard plan is $35/month and comes with 3 users, pre-built automation, and contact segmentation features.
For $80/month, you get the Premium plan, which includes unlimited users, custom automation, custom segmentations, revenue reporting, and Google Ads Manager.
Constant Contact does limit automations and some functionality at lower pricing though without the inherent bundling of premium educational resources and tools we see from GetResponse. But transparent custom quotes based on needs provide flexibility.
Winner: GetResponse
GetResponse wins on pricing for its free bonus resources like email marketing courses along with budget-friendly scaling. Constant Contact customizes reasonably too but bundles less inherent value or education into base subscription plans by comparison.
For the entry-level features provided across transparent pricing tiers that also include professional development offerings, GetResponse gives users more bang for their buck.
8. Reviews and Reputation
GetResponse
GetResponse earns positive reviews across software review platforms for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and integration ecosystem. Users praise the intuitive drag-and-drop editor, comprehensive analytics dashboards, and reliable reaching inboxes.
Top consumer sites give GetResponse excellent ratings – Capterra (4.7/5 stars), G2(4.4/5), and SoftwareAdvice (4.5/5). Some downsides mentioned include the complexity for beginners learning advanced workflows and occasionally lagging customer support response times.
But for the most part, in-depth review roundups like FinancesOnline and Business.com highlight GetResponse as a leading email marketing platform for growing businesses thanks to standout features, deliverability, and continuous platform innovation.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact garners mixed feedback from users. The straightforward email builder provides an accessible entry point for novices praised across reviews. However, frustrations around deliverability issues, contact upload errors, and hidden fees are routinely cited.
The platform averages lower reviews on sites like G2(4.1/5) plagued by complaints around email deliverability compared to competitors. Certain interface specifics drawn criticism as well.
However, analysts still recognize Constant Contact as a viable starter email marketing solution for bootstrapped small business owners despite its limitations. For those wanting to skip complexity and value education resources, the email marketing tool makes a reasonable option.
Winner: GetResponse
Based on reviews and customer feedback, it’s easy to see how Constant Contact comes in second. GetResponse wins thanks to far more consistent praise of its capabilities, reliability, and performance in meeting the demands of digitally savvy email marketers.
While Constant Contact offers simplicity for rookies, too many struggles around critical functions like deliverability and clunky interfaces hold back recommendations especially up against its peers. For reputation and results, reviewers prefer GetResponse.
9. FAQ’s
GetResponse FAQs
- What kinds of email campaigns can I create?
GetResponse offers a range of email marketing tools, including welcome emails, newsletters, autoresponders, birthday messages, abandoned cart flows, RSS-to-email, and more. - How do I get contacts on my list?
GetResponse offers forms, site integrations, CSV imports, API connections, and manual additions to populate contact lists. - What metrics can I track?
GetResponse provides reports on opens, clicks, conversions, unsubscribes, shares, geo data, and more with interactive dashboards to filter analytics. - Can I sell products through emails?
Yes, GetResponse integrates e-commerce features from platforms like Shopify to enable sending product catalogs and individual offers. - How can I optimize deliverability?
GetResponse runs proprietary spam checks on content while leveraging technology like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate emails for improved inbox placement.
Constant Contact FAQs
- What email types can I use?
Constant Contact supports welcome sequences, newsletters, announcements, invitations, promotions, alerts, and automated emails. - How do I customize templates?
Drag-and-drop editing lets you customize images, layouts, colors, and styles right in the email builder interface. - Can I import contacts from Excel?
Yes, Constant Contact allows bulk uploading of contacts via Excel CSV imports along with integrations with CRMs like Salesforce. - How can I grow my lists?
Constant Contact offers tools to create sign-up form templates for landing pages, pop-ups, and your website to capture new contacts. - What add-ons are available?
Add-ons include site builder tools for a blog or ecommerce store, chat functions, Facebook posting, custom surveys, coupon creation applications, and more to enhance capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Choose GetResponse if…
GetResponse works best for small business owners, entrepreneurs, agencies, and marketers who want advanced functionality, reliable deliverability, and superior analytics. Its automation, integrations and landing page builder enable sophisticated email workflows while robust platform resources help new users skill up quickly.
Prioritize GetResponse if you plan to scale campaigns, value customization, or want room to expand cross-channel strategies over time beyond basic email newsletters.
Choose Constant Contact if…
Constant Contact suits solo entrepreneurs, local brick-and-mortar businesses, and small teams seeking simplicity first in an email marketing platform without overcomplicated features or steep learning curves. Expect basic templates, integration with core small business tools like CRMs and e-commerce platforms, and guidance resources to get started. If easy newsletter creation minus complex workflows or large contact lists is your main goal, Constant Contact delivers.
You might also be interested in reading about Constant Contact alternatives.