Constant Contact versus Aweber
Constant Contact versus Aweber
If you are in Sales & Marketing then no doubt you are emailing your customers and prospects on an ongoing basis. If you aren’t using a service that specializes in email marketing, then you are losing out on increased sales, your valuable time and ultimately money. If you are still sending emails via BCC (Blind Carbon Copy), get with the times my friend as you are not only NOT personalizing your emails, you are potentially opening yourself or your company up for spam complaints and potential legal issues.
On to the task at hand comparing two of the world’s most premier online email marketing services, often referred to as auto responders. I have aimed to make this as impartial as possible, and ask that users of either services, or other competitive products, comment as to their thoughts and experiences.
Here is a side by side comparison of features & costs:
| Constant Contact | Aweber | |
| Cost Per Month | $15 for 500 email addresses to $150 for 25,000 | $19/500 email addresses to $149 for 25,000 |
| Email Newsletters | Yes | Yes |
| Deliverability | 97% | 99% |
| Support | Free Phone, Email & Chat | Free Phone, Email & Chat |
| Auto Responders | No | Yes |
| Email Templates | 300 Templates | 75 Templates |
| Affiliate Program | Commission Junction | Aweber’s Own |
| Website Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Image Hosting | Yes | No |
| Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Spam Check | Yes | Yes |
| Surveys | Yes | No |
| User Community | Yes | No |
| Blog Newsletter | No | Yes |
| Shopping Cart Integration | No | Yes |
If you aren’t currently an Aweber or Constant Contact user, I’ve negotiated for you a Free Test Drive of both services at the links below…
Cheers,
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Comment by Tom Kulzer (AWeber CEO) on 27 August 2008:
Hi Lee,
Thanks for the write up about AWeber. Unless CC has just released some new features, they definitely do not have any sort of autoresponder or sequential follow up functionality. AWeber was founded 10 years ago this month based exclusively on that feature. We do much more now, but it’s still the staple of automating communication with your website’s visitors.
Comment by leeraito on 27 August 2008:
Honest mistake Tom, as you will see I have updated the features.
Thanks for stopping by!
Comment by Tom Kulzer (AWeber CEO) on 27 August 2008:
Not a problem.
Keep up the great work Lee!
Comment by Michael Carnell on 19 November 2008:
Any real-life use comparrisons? And, any idea how Vertical Response (http://www.verticalresponse.com) compares in all this? They are less expensive, $10/month entry level, but are they any good?
Comment by Georjina on 16 March 2009:
Hello Lee,
I recently took the Constant Contact 60 day trial after closing down my Aweber account last year (nothing to do with Aweber’s service, I wasn’t ready at the time).
I’ll be going back to Aweber. Constant Contact to date still does not offer an autoresponder service, and I was told my 26 sequence newsletter would have to be entered by hand - it took me months to write the original content and now I’m supposed to do it again?! I don’t think so.
Thank you for the even handed treatment of both services. I’ve considered Get Response but I’m going with Aweber, it’s better for a newbie like me:)
Comment by Ron Givens on 20 March 2009:
Thank you for the write up. Great information.
Also with AWeber’s affiliate program, you have direct and personal contact with the affiliate manager - me :). I am always here for our affiliates and am willing to answer any questions they may have.
I have been with AWeber for several years, so I have an intimate knowledge of the AWeber email marketing system that you will not find if you use a company that outsources it’s affiliate program.
Have a brilliant day!
Comment by RL on 14 May 2009:
Constant contact now has an autoresponder offering, but it’s rumored they will charge for it in the future plus it’s not very robust nor does it allow for the extensive segmenting that Aweber has.
I’m going back to Aweber though I did have to get a newletter template designed for me to use with Aweber. I would like to see way more e-mail newsletter html templates at Aweber.
Comment by Michael Rinsler on 14 June 2009:
Hi
Can somebody out there please be kind enough to help me. I am a single dad who lost everything I had. I am a personal trainer that goes to peoples homes on the North Shore of Long Island. I just started a web-page from homestead.com, the site is named up abobe-www.housecallspersonaltrainer.com . I do not have money for any S.E.O.- so the only way future clients will find me is from flyers with my web-address that I have in a few places. I am new at this internet business thing- and am trying to build up my in home client business-can someone please tell me which would be the easiest set up for me ?- constant contact or Aweber?- and please- what is an “autoresponder”?- is there a way that one of these services- once someone puts in their e mail info- can automaticly send out maybe a “word document automaticly” on different training articles I have ?- is there such an animal out there ?- I appreciate if someone can please answer me. I actually signed up for the webinar on how to use aweber this Tues. night- and I also signed up for the free constant contact trail-but cannot seem to put the sign in box on my webpage- ty for your help- sincerely Michael-thetrainer21@yahoo.com
Comment by Lee on 14 June 2009:
Hi Michael,
Aweber will do exactly what you want by sending out an auto response with whatever links you want! Aweber is a true autoresponder, and in your case Constant Contact is probably not the best fit. The folks over at Aweber are very helpfu,l so I would definetly take in one of there training sessions if you can.
If you need any additioinal help feel free to get in touch via my contact page!
Cheers,
Lee
Comment by Michael Rinsler on 16 June 2009:
Hi Lee
Thank you very much for your reply. I will be on the Aweber webinar tonight !- I will let you know how it goes- ty so much again- have a great night-sincerely- Michael