Last summer, I watched a small business owner friend agonize over which email marketing platform to choose. After weeks of research, she was still torn between AWeber vs Constant Contact. “They both look good on paper,” she sighed, “but which one will actually help my business grow?” Her dilemma is one that countless marketers face every day.
If you're in the same boat, you're in the right place. This comprehensive comparison will cut through the marketing jargon to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your specific needs.
Why Your Email Marketing Platform Choice Matters
Email marketing continues to deliver an impressive ROI of $42 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most effective digital marketing channels available. But to harness this potential, you need the right platform powering your campaigns.
AWeber and Constant Contact have both stood the test of time in the ever-evolving email marketing landscape. Founded in 1998 and 1995 respectively, these platforms have continuously adapted to meet marketers' changing needs. But which one, AWeber vs Constant Contact, deserves your investment in 2025?
Let's find out.
AWeber: The Autoresponder Pioneer
AWeber made its name by pioneering autoresponder technology, and it has continued to innovate while maintaining its user-friendly approach.
Key Features That Make AWeber Stand Out
- Extensive Template Library: With over 700 responsive email templates, AWeber offers unmatched design flexibility without requiring design skills.
- Sophisticated Automation: Create complex, behavior-based email sequences that respond to subscriber actions automatically.
- Impressive Integration Ecosystem: Connect seamlessly with over 800 third-party tools and platforms to create a cohesive marketing tech stack.
- Landing Page Builder: Choose from 40+ templates to create high-converting landing pages without additional software.
- AI-Powered Content Creation: Generate email content and subject lines quickly with AWeber's AI writing assistant.
AWeber Pricing Structure
AWeber offers a free plan that includes:
- Up to 500 subscribers
- Basic email automation
- Landing page builder
- Web push notifications
Paid plans start at $12.50/month (billed annually) for up to 500 subscribers, with pricing that scales based on your list size.
For a deeper dive into AWeber's capabilities and value proposition, check out our comprehensive AWeber review.
Constant Contact: The All-in-One Marketing Solution
Constant Contact has evolved from a simple email marketing tool into a comprehensive marketing platform that aims to be the central hub for your marketing efforts.
What Sets Constant Contact Apart
- Intuitive User Interface: Widely praised for its user-friendly design that flattens the learning curve for marketing beginners.
- Event Management Tools: Promote, manage, and sell tickets to events directly through the platform—a standout feature that AWeber doesn't offer.
- Social Media Integration: Schedule and publish social media content alongside your email campaigns for a coordinated approach.
- Real-Time Tracking: Monitor opens, clicks, and other engagement metrics as they happen to quickly gauge campaign performance.
- E-commerce Features: Sell products directly through your emails with built-in payment processing capabilities.
Constant Contact Pricing Breakdown
Constant Contact's pricing starts at:
- $12/month for up to 500 contacts on the Email plan
- $35/month for the same number of contacts on the Email Plus plan, which includes advanced features like automated behavioral emails and event marketing
Unlike AWeber, Constant Contact does not offer a free forever plan, but they do provide a 60-day free trial for new users.
Head-to-Head Comparison: AWeber vs Constant Contact
Now that we've covered the basics of both platforms, let's compare them directly across the factors that matter most to email marketers.
Ease of Use
Winner: Constant Contact
Both platforms pride themselves on user-friendliness, but Constant Contact edges out AWeber with its exceptionally intuitive interface. The learning curve is gentler, making it ideal for beginners or those who want to get campaigns up and running quickly.
AWeber isn't difficult to use by any means, but some of its more advanced features require a bit more time to master.
Design and Templates
Winner: AWeber
With its library of 700+ responsive templates, AWeber offers significantly more design options than Constant Contact. This variety gives you more flexibility to match your brand aesthetic and create visually compelling emails that stand out in crowded inboxes.
If you're interested in crafting emails that convert, you might want to review common email copywriting mistakes to avoid while using these templates.
Automation Capabilities
Winner: AWeber
AWeber's automation features are more sophisticated, allowing for complex, behavior-based sequences that respond to subscriber actions. You can create detailed customer journeys with multiple pathways based on how subscribers interact with your content.
Constant Contact offers automation as well, but the options are more limited and less flexible, particularly on their basic plan.
Reporting and Analytics
Winner: AWeber
Both platforms provide solid analytics, but AWeber's reporting suite is more comprehensive. You'll get deeper insights into subscriber behavior, campaign performance, and list growth trends. These detailed metrics help you refine your strategy based on data rather than guesswork.
If you're comparing AWeber with other platforms, our AWeber vs ActiveCampaign comparison might also be helpful in understanding how AWeber's analytics stack up across the industry.
Integrations
Winner: AWeber
With over 800 integrations compared to Constant Contact‘s approximately 350, AWeber offers more opportunities to connect with your existing tech stack. This extensive ecosystem makes AWeber more versatile for businesses using multiple marketing tools and platforms.
Pricing Value
Winner: AWeber
AWeber's free plan and lower starting price for paid plans make it more budget-friendly, especially for small businesses and startups. The value proposition becomes even stronger when you consider the advanced features included in the base price.
However, Constant Contact's pricing becomes more competitive as list sizes grow, so larger businesses might find better value there.
Feature Comparison Table
Feature | AWeber | Constant Contact |
---|---|---|
Starting Price | Free (up to 500 subscribers) | $12/month (up to 500 contacts) |
Email Templates | 700+ | 200+ |
Automation | Advanced, behavior-based | Basic to moderate |
Landing Pages | Yes, 40+ templates | Yes, limited templates |
Event Management | No | Yes, robust tools |
A/B Testing | Yes | Yes, limited on basic plan |
Integrations | 800+ | 350+ |
Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
Customer Support | 24/7 live chat, email, phone | Phone, chat, email during business hours |
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
The best platform for you depends on your specific needs, goals, and resources. Here are some scenarios to guide your decision:
Choose AWeber if:
- You're on a tight budget or just starting out (take advantage of the free plan)
- You need sophisticated automation capabilities
- Design flexibility and variety are important to you
- You use many third-party tools that need to integrate with your email platform
- You value detailed analytics to optimize your campaigns
AWeber's affiliate program is also worth considering if you plan to recommend the platform to others, as it offers generous commissions.
Choose Constant Contact if:
- Ease of use is your top priority
- You regularly host events and need integrated event management tools
- Social media marketing is a significant part of your strategy
- You prefer a platform with more all-in-one marketing capabilities
- You value phone support during business hours
Getting the Most From Your Email Marketing Platform
Whichever platform you choose, success depends not just on the tool but how you use it. Here are some best practices to maximize your results:
1. Focus on List Quality Over Quantity
A smaller, engaged list will outperform a large but uninterested one every time. Regularly clean your list of inactive subscribers and focus on attracting people who genuinely want your content.
2. Perfect Your Subject Lines
The subject line determines whether your email gets opened or ignored. Learn to craft compelling email subject lines that pique curiosity and promise value.
3. Segment Your Audience
Both AWeber and Constant Contact offer segmentation tools. Use them to divide your audience based on demographics, behavior, or preferences, then tailor your messages accordingly.
4. Test Everything
Don't assume you know what will work. Test different elements—subject lines, send times, content formats, call-to-action buttons—and let the data guide your strategy.
5. Optimize for Mobile
With over 60% of emails now opened on mobile devices, ensure your templates look great on small screens. Both AWeber and Constant Contact offer mobile-responsive templates, but always preview and test before sending.
6. Create Valuable Content
The body copy of your emails should provide genuine value to subscribers. Focus on solving problems, answering questions, or entertaining your audience.
Interactive AWeber vs Constant Contact Comparison Tool
Select the features that matter most to your business to see which platform is the better fit:
Feature | AWeber | Constant Contact |
---|---|---|
Free Plan | Yes (up to 500 subscribers) | No (60-day trial only) |
Starting Price | $12.50/month (annual billing) | $12/month |
Behavior-Based Automations | Advanced | Basic |
Tagging & Segmentation | Comprehensive | Limited |
Email Templates | 700+ | 200+ |
Landing Page Templates | 40+ | Limited selection |
User Interface | User-friendly | Very intuitive |
Learning Curve | Moderate | Gentle |
Event Registration | No | Yes |
Ticket Sales | No | Yes |
Number of Integrations | 800+ | 350+ |
API Access | Comprehensive | Limited |
Reporting Depth | Detailed | Standard |
Conversion Tracking | Advanced | Basic |
Social Media Posting | Limited | Comprehensive |
Social Ads Integration | Basic | Advanced |
Your Recommended Platform: Select features above to see recommendation
Real User Experiences
To provide a more rounded perspective, I spoke with several business owners who have used both platforms. Here's what they shared:
“AWeber's automation capabilities transformed our onboarding process. We set up a 10-email sequence that introduces new customers to our product features gradually, and our support tickets dropped by 30%.” – Sarah, SaaS Company Owner
“As someone with zero technical skills, Constant Contact was a lifesaver. I was able to set up my first campaign in under an hour, and their event management tools helped us sell out our workshop series.” – Marcus, Professional Coach
“We switched from Constant Contact to AWeber primarily for the integrations. Being able to connect our CRM, webinar platform, and checkout system has streamlined our entire marketing operation.” – Jennifer, E-commerce Store Owner
The Verdict: Which Platform Reigns Supreme?
If I had to declare an overall winner in the AWeber vs Constant Contact battle, AWeber edges ahead for most users due to its more advanced features, generous free plan, and extensive integration options. However, Constant Contact remains the better choice for businesses that prioritize simplicity and event marketing capabilities.
The good news is that both platforms offer trial periods, so you can test them with your specific workflows before committing long-term.
Remember that the “best” platform is ultimately the one that aligns with your specific needs, technical comfort level, and marketing goals. Take the time to identify your priorities before making a decision.
Looking Beyond Email Marketing
As digital marketing continues to evolve, both AWeber and Constant Contact are expanding their offerings beyond traditional email marketing. AWeber has been focusing on enhanced automation and AI-powered content creation, while Constant Contact has been building out its all-in-one marketing platform with additional social media and e-commerce features.
Keeping an eye on these developments can help you choose a platform that will grow with your business and adapt to changing marketing trends.
Final Thoughts
Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to nurture leads, build relationships with customers, and drive sales. Both AWeber and Constant Contact offer robust tools to help you leverage this powerful channel.
By carefully considering the features, pricing, and user experience of each platform—and aligning them with your specific needs—you can make an informed decision that supports your marketing goals for years to come.
Whether you choose the automation power and design flexibility of AWeber or the user-friendly interface and integrated marketing tools of Constant Contact, remember that consistent, valuable communication with your audience is what ultimately drives results.