In the new era of digital marketing, choosing the right email marketing platform is essential for businesses aiming to engage their audience effectively. Constant Contact has been a longstanding contender in this field, but how does it measure up in 2025?
Moreover, is there a more versatile and cost-effective alternative?
The answer to that is a simple yes!
This comprehensive review delves into Constant Contact’s features, pros, cons, and introduces Icegram Express as a compelling option.
What is Constant Contact?
Founded in 1995, Constant Contact has established itself as a prominent email marketing service provider, primarily catering to small and medium-sized businesses. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to assist businesses in creating and managing email campaigns, building contact lists, and analyzing performance metrics.
Constant Contact: Features
Constant Contact provides a range of features aimed at streamlining email marketing efforts:
- Email templates: Access to a variety of customizable templates suitable for different industries and occasions.
- Automation: Tools to set up automated email sequences, such as welcome emails for new subscribers.
- Integrations: Compatibility with numerous third-party applications, including social media platforms and e-commerce solutions.
- Analytics: Detailed reporting on email performance, encompassing metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and bounce rates.
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros of Constant Contact:
- User-friendly interface: Constant Contact is designed with simplicity, making it accessible to users without technical expertise. This ease of use allows even beginners to manage their email campaigns effectively.
- Established brand: With years of experience in the market, Constant Contact has become a trusted name in email marketing, providing users with the confidence that they are using a reliable and tested platform.
- Comprehensive support: Constant Contact offers multiple support channels, including live chat and phone support, ensuring users can quickly get assistance when needed, whether for troubleshooting or general inquiries.
Cons of Constant Contact:
- Pricing: Starting at $12 per month for up to 500 subscribers, Constant Contact’s pricing can escalate quickly as your contact list grows, which may be a concern for businesses with tight budgets.
- Limited advanced features: While suitable for basic email marketing, Constant Contact lacks some of the advanced features offered by competitors, particularly in automation and deep customization, which may be a drawback for more experienced users.
- Template design limitations: While there are many templates available, customization options are somewhat restrictive, which may limit your ability to create highly personalized or brand-specific designs.
How Does Icegram Express Compare?
Icegram Express emerges as a formidable alternative, especially for businesses seeking a cost-effective and feature-rich email marketing solution.
Let’s check out the features of both and where they shine!
Feature comparison:
| Feature | Constant Contact | Icegram Express |
| Pricing | Starts at $12/month for up to 500 subscribers; scales with list size. | Offers a free Starter plan; Pro plan at $129/year with extensive features. |
| Email Templates | Wide range, but customization is somewhat limited. | Diverse templates with robust customization options. |
| Automation | Basic automation capabilities. | Advanced automation, including A/B testing and detailed reporting. |
| Integrations | Integrates with various third-party apps. | Seamless integration with popular plugins, email service providers, and themes. |
| User Interface | User-friendly but may lack depth for advanced users. | Intuitive interface suitable for both beginners and advanced users. |
Affordability and versatility:
Icegram Express stands out with its competitive pricing structure. The free Starter plan is ideal for small businesses and freelancers, while the Pro plan, priced at $129 per year, offers a comprehensive suite of features without hidden costs. This transparent pricing ensures that businesses can scale their email marketing efforts without unexpected expenses.
Pros and Cons of Icegram Express
Pros:
- Affordable & transparent pricing: Unlike Constant Contact, Icegram Express offers a completely free Starter plan and a Pro plan at just $129/year, making it a cost-effective choice.
- Advanced automation: Create highly targeted email sequences based on subscriber behavior, ensuring better engagement.
- Seamless WordPress & WooCommerce integration: Works perfectly with online stores to automate emails, recover abandoned carts, and nurture customer relationships.
- Fully customizable templates: Unlike Constant Contact, Icegram Express gives you complete control over your email design.
Cons:
- No Built-in phone support: While it has email and live chat support, there’s no direct phone support like Constant Contact offers.
- More features = Slight learning curve: Beginners may need time to explore its automation and customization options, but the intuitive interface helps ease the process.
- Best for WordPress users: While Icegram Express works for various businesses, it’s particularly designed for WordPress and WooCommerce users.
Who should use Icegram Express?
Icegram Express is particularly well-suited for:
- Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs): Those looking for a robust email marketing tool without the hefty price tag.
- Solopreneurs and freelancers: Individuals seeking an intuitive platform to manage their email campaigns efficiently.
- Agencies: Marketing agencies in need of a versatile tool that can cater to diverse client needs.
- Non-Profit organizations: Entities requiring cost-effective solutions to engage with their communities.
- WooCommerce users: Online store owners who want to automate email marketing, recover abandoned carts, and nurture customer relationships seamlessly.
- Blogger and content creators: These are ideal for newsletter distribution, audience engagement, and keeping your audience abreast about the current company updates.
- Course creators: This helps sending course update, engagement emails for students, and email sequences for online learning.
- Local businesses: This establishes direct audience communication with customers, promotional offers, and appointment reminders.
- Affiliate marketers: This helps with lead nurturing, affiliate updates, and promotional sequences, to help increase conversions.
Conclusion
While Constant Contact remains a reputable choice in the email marketing domain, it’s essential to assess whether it aligns with your specific needs and budget constraints. Icegram Express offers a compelling alternative, combining affordability with a rich feature set tailored to modern marketing demands. For businesses and individuals seeking a versatile and cost-effective email marketing solution, exploring Icegram Express could be a game-changer.
So if your business is currently seeking a versatile and cost-effective email marketing solution, why not check out Icegram Express?
FAQs
What is Constant Contact best known for?
Constant Contact is best known for its user-friendly email marketing tools, extensive template library, and reliable customer support, making it popular among small and medium-sized businesses.
Is Constant Contact free to use?
No, Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial, but its paid plans start at $12/month for up to 500 subscribers, with costs increasing as your contact list grows.
What are the main drawbacks of Constant Contact?
Constant Contact’s main drawbacks include higher pricing compared to competitors, limited advanced email marketing automation, and restricted template customization.
Why choose Icegram Express over Constant Contact?
Icegram Express offers affordable pricing, advanced automation, and robust customization, making it an ideal choice for SMBs, solopreneurs, and agencies looking for cost-effective email marketing solutions.