Cliqly Email Marketing Review: Top Alternatives for Smarter Campaigns in 2025

Email remains one of the most powerful and reliable channels for businesses of all sizes. From building strong relationships with customers to driving sales and increasing brand awareness, email marketing is a cornerstone strategy that can pay enormous dividends when done right. There are countless platforms available to help businesses reach their audiences more efficiently, and in this blog post, we are going to take a deep dive into one of those platforms: Cliqly Email Marketing.

We’ll explore the ins and outs of Cliqly Email Marketing, shine a light on its benefits, and address some of the drawbacks that potential users should be aware of. Finally, we’ll look at ten compelling alternatives—starting with Distrobird—so that you can choose the right email marketing service for your unique business needs.

Introduction to Email Marketing

Before we zoom in on Cliqly Email Marketing, it’s essential to understand why email marketing remains vital to businesses in today’s digital-first landscape. Email marketing is not a new practice—it’s actually one of the oldest forms of online marketing. Despite the growth of social media, mobile app marketing, and influencer campaigns, email retains its position as one of the highest-converting marketing channels. Here’s why:

1. Reach: Nearly everyone with an internet connection has an email address. While users can be found on various social media platforms, email is the universal denominator, ensuring you can consistently reach a broad swath of your target audience.
2. Ownership: Unlike a social media platform that can change algorithms overnight, you own your email list. This means greater security, independence, and potential for long-term stability.
3. High ROI: According to multiple studies, email marketing can yield an average return on investment (ROI) as high as 4200%. Depending on your niche, approach, and automation, this figure can be even higher.
4. Targeted and Personalized Marketing: Email campaigns let you segment your list based on customer behavior, demographics, or interactions with your brand. This segmentation can dramatically increase engagement and conversion.

While each email marketing platform offers its unique blend of features, user interface, and pricing tiers, understanding core concepts—such as deliverability, personalization, automation, and analytics—is key to executing successful campaigns. With that groundwork laid, let’s shift our focus to the star of this blog post: Cliqly Email Marketing.

Overview of Cliqly Email Marketing

Cliqly Email Marketing is a tool designed to help businesses streamline their email marketing efforts. It aims to combine ease of use with advanced functionality, which can include automation workflows, segmentation, template creation, analytics tracking, and more. If you’re looking for a platform that allows you to create visually appealing emails, segment audiences carefully, and test different campaign elements, Cliqly might have solutions catered to your needs.

Key Features of Cliqly Email Marketing

1. Drag-and-Drop Email Editor
   Cliqly boasts a simple drag-and-drop email editor that enables marketers—even those without a design background—to create attractive emails. From basic text-only emails to visually complex newsletters, the editor is designed to handle a wide range of design needs.
2. Segmentation and Personalization
   Modern marketing thrives on personalization, and Cliqly offers audience segmentation features that allow businesses to tailor content to different subsets of their email list. Whether you’re targeting new subscribers or re-engaging with dormant ones, segmentation is a crucial aspect of any winning email strategy.
3. Automation Workflows
   Automation is central to scaling email campaigns without sacrificing quality. Cliqly supports automated email sequences for onboarding, re-engagement, or lead nurturing. Once set up, these workflows can save you hours of manual work.
4. Analytics Dashboard
   For data-driven marketers, analytics are non-negotiable. Cliqly’s analytics dashboard provides insights into open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and more, allowing you to make informed decisions about your email marketing strategy.
5. Deliverability Tools
   Getting your emails into your subscribers’ primary inboxes is critical. Cliqly provides deliverability reports and best practice tips, guiding marketers on how to avoid spam filters and improve their sender reputation over time.
6. Integration Capabilities
   Most businesses use multiple marketing and sales tools in tandem. Cliqly Email Marketing integrates with a variety of popular CRM platforms, e-commerce solutions, and other applications, ensuring a smoother workflow.

While these features are beneficial, it’s important to understand the real-world pros and cons of Cliqly Email Marketing before you invest your time and budget in the platform.

Pros of Cliqly Email Marketing

1. User-Friendly Interface

One of the major selling points of Cliqly Email Marketing is its intuitive user interface. The drag-and-drop email editor and straightforward menu layout make it accessible for those who may not have extensive technical or design skills. This usability factor can be a game-changer for small businesses, solopreneurs, or nonprofits looking to keep overhead costs low.

2. Extensive Template Library

Cliqly comes equipped with a variety of pre-designed templates that cater to multiple industries—retail, B2B, hospitality, health services, and more. This library can significantly cut down the time it takes to design and build emails from scratch. For marketers constantly under pressure to roll out fresh campaigns, having templates ready to customize can save hours.

3. Robust Automation and Segmentation

The ability to automate your email marketing funnel is crucial to scaling customer engagement and nurturing leads. Cliqly’s workflow builder and automation rules are fairly robust, enabling you to create personalized email sequences. For instance, a new subscriber can receive a welcome series, followed by targeted offers based on how they interact with your website or app. Once set up, these workflows run quietly in the background, allowing you to focus on higher-level strategy.

4. Detailed Analytics

Cliqly’s analytics can help you track open rates, click-through rates, unsubscribes, revenue (for e-commerce users), and other important metrics. Visibility into these performance stats is essential for measuring campaign effectiveness and making iterative improvements. Over time, these insights enable data-driven refinement of your email marketing approach.

5. Customer Support

A hallmark of any good email marketing platform is responsive and knowledgeable customer support. Many Cliqly users report that the platform offers timely support through email, chat, and sometimes phone, depending on your subscription tier. This can be especially helpful for users new to advanced email marketing concepts, or for businesses that need quick problem-solving to maintain campaign momentum.

6. Scalability

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an established business with an extensive contact list, Cliqly offers different pricing structures to accommodate your growth. As your subscriber list expands, you can upgrade to higher-tier plans without disruption to your existing workflows.

Cons of Cliqly Email Marketing

1. Pricing Tiers Can Get Expensive

While Cliqly Email Marketing may be cost-effective for smaller lists, some users have found the pricing structure becomes pricey as subscriber counts grow. Advanced features—like deeper analytics, premium templates, and certain automation workflows—may be locked behind higher-tier packages. For businesses on a tight budget or those experiencing rapid subscriber growth, monthly costs can escalate quickly.

2. Limited Advanced Features

Although the platform offers a good balance of features, true power users might feel confined by some of Cliqly’s limitations. Complex automations and nuanced triggers, in comparison to enterprise-level platforms, may not be as flexible or advanced. If your email marketing strategy relies heavily on multiple segmentation layers and highly sophisticated behavioral triggers, you might find Cliqly limiting.

3. Learning Curve for Some Features

While the drag-and-drop editor is straightforward, some users might find certain automation or integration features to be less intuitive. If you’re venturing into complex automations and dynamic content, you might need to invest a fair amount of time reviewing tutorials and documentation—or contacting customer support more frequently than expected.

4. Template Customization Constraints

Although the template library is beneficial, some marketers note that customization beyond the basic styling can be difficult. If you want highly unique or brand-tailored templates without the use of custom HTML, you might find yourself working around some of Cliqly’s design constraints.

5. Occasional Deliverability Concerns

Deliverability is a nuanced challenge for any email marketing provider, and while Cliqly generally performs well, a few users have reported occasional deliverability issues. This can be attributed to factors like shared IP addresses, spam trap hits, or misconfiguration of sender authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). While these are generally solvable with the help of their support team, it’s still a consideration to keep in mind.

Ten Alternatives to Cliqly Email Marketing

Now that we have a clear picture of the advantages and disadvantages of Cliqly Email Marketing, you might be wondering about other viable solutions. Whether you want more advanced features, a different pricing model, or are just curious about what else is out there, here are ten alternatives worth considering. We’ll start with Distrobird, a platform that’s been gaining attention in the email marketing world.

1. Distrobird

First on our list is Distrobird, the sales automation tool offers an email marketing service that aims to provide a high level of functionality paired with an intuitive user interface. The platform focuses on deliverability, ensuring your emails actually land in your subscribers’ inboxes. Key features include:

1. Adaptive Templates: Distrobird boasts a robust suite of mobile-responsive templates that can be easily customized.
2. Advanced Segmentation: You can break down your subscriber base into granular segments to deliver highly personalized campaigns.
3. Deliverability Monitoring: Real-time insights into email deliverability, along with tips on maintaining high sender reputation.
4. Scalable Automations: Automated sequences adapt to subscriber behaviors, turning one-time leads into long-term customers.
5. Integration-Friendly: Connects seamlessly with popular CRMs and e-commerce platforms, creating a unified marketing ecosystem.

Distrobird offers a variety of pricing plans designed to cater to both small businesses and enterprise clients. Its transparent pricing model, combined with a user-friendly workflow, makes it a noteworthy competitor in the email marketing landscape.

2. Mailchimp

Possibly one of the most recognized names in email marketing, Mailchimp is known for its ease of use and breadth of integrations. Mailchimp offers a free tier for up to 2,000 subscribers, which can be especially attractive to small businesses and new marketers. Features include:

• Drag-and-Drop Editor: Creates professional-looking emails with minimal effort.
• Basic Automation: Though not as powerful as some enterprise solutions, Mailchimp’s automation is sufficient for simpler workflows.
• Extensive Integration: Connect Mailchimp with social media, e-commerce stores, and various marketing tools.
• Analytics and A/B Testing: Helps measure campaign performance and optimize subject lines, email designs, and sending times.

The biggest complaint among advanced users tends to be Mailchimp’s limited automation. As you grow, you may find that you need more sophisticated tools than Mailchimp can offer at a reasonable price.

3. Constant Contact

Constant Contact is an established player in the email marketing space, particularly popular among nonprofits and small-to-midsize businesses. Its platform is lauded for ease of use and customer support. Key features include:

• Email Templates and Image Library: Access a large variety of templates suitable for newsletters, promotions, and announcements.
• Event Management: Allows integration with event marketing, letting you create and promote events directly from the platform.
• Support and Onboarding: Offers extensive tutorials and a dedicated support team for new customers.
• Contact Management: Importing and segmenting contacts is straightforward, helping you to target campaigns effectively.

While Constant Contact is user-friendly, some advanced marketers might feel limited by its automation capabilities and more basic reporting features compared to other platforms.

4. AWeber

As one of the original email marketing providers, AWeber has a longstanding reputation for strong deliverability and robust customer service. The platform offers:

• Responsive Email Templates: AWeber is known for having a large library of templates that adapt to desktop and mobile screens.
• Automation via Campaigns: Set up basic automated sequences for different segments of your audience.
• Sign-Up Forms: Create visually appealing forms to grow your email list.
• Analytics: Track standard metrics such as open and click rates, unsubscribes, and more.

AWeber’s interface is straightforward enough for beginners, yet it might lack the in-depth marketing automation features that some advanced users need.

5. ConvertKit

A favorite among bloggers, content creators, and entrepreneurs, ConvertKit focuses on simplicity and subscriber management. ConvertKit is known for:

• Intuitive Automation: Visual workflows that can be quickly set up to send targeted emails based on subscriber behavior.
• Tagging System: Instead of static lists, ConvertKit employs a robust tagging system, making it easy to segment subscribers by interests, behavior, or funnel stages.
• Landing Pages and Forms: Built-in landing page templates allow creators to gather leads without investing in a separate landing page service.
• Creator-Friendly Pricing: Especially designed for individual creators and small teams.

Though ConvertKit excels with personalized automation, it may not offer as many design tools for those who prefer highly visual, media-rich emails.

6. GetResponse

GetResponse is a full-fledged marketing platform that extends beyond email, offering webinar hosting, landing page creation, and CRM features. This makes it a strong contender if you’re looking for an all-in-one marketing solution. Highlights include:

• Email Marketing & Autoresponders: A comprehensive set of tools to create campaigns and automate engagement.
• Conversion Funnels: Pre-built funnels for lead generation, sales, and webinars.
• Webinars: Host and manage live webinars directly within GetResponse, an excellent feature for B2B marketing and training.
• Landing Pages: An integrated landing page builder can help you drive conversions without needing a separate platform.

The trade-off is a slightly more complex interface, and you’ll pay more if you want all the bells and whistles.

7. ActiveCampaign

If you’re after advanced marketing automation, ActiveCampaign is often cited as one of the best in the business. Its features include:

• Dynamic Automations: Complex trigger-based workflows that can be customized heavily to map out customer journeys.
• CRM Integration: A built-in CRM for sales teams, allowing you to combine marketing and sales efforts.
• Site Tracking: Track website visits by subscribers and trigger campaigns based on their browsing behavior.
• Advanced Segmentation: Use multiple conditions to hyper-target groups within your email list.

The flipside is that ActiveCampaign may pose a steeper learning curve for beginners. The richness of features is a plus for advanced marketers but can be intimidating if you only need a simple newsletter tool.

8. Drip

A specialized tool for e-commerce, Drip focuses on advanced segmentation and personalization to drive sales. Features include:

• Behavior-Based Automation: Trigger email sequences based on user behavior such as site visits, cart abandonment, or purchases.
• Deep E-commerce Integrations: Connects seamlessly with platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce.
• Revenue Attribution: Ties your email campaigns directly to revenue, helping you see what’s driving the most sales.
• Sophisticated Segmentation: Offers granular segmentation so you can match the right message to the right audience.

Drip is one of the more premium-priced solutions on this list, but e-commerce-focused businesses often find its ROI makes it worth the cost.

9. Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor is celebrated for its design-centric interface and elegant email templates. If brand identity and beautiful emails are top priorities, Campaign Monitor delivers:

• Drag-and-Drop Builder: A robust email builder with plenty of customization options.
• Segmentation & Personalization: Send different versions of your emails to people based on a variety of conditions.
• A/B Testing: Test subject lines, content, or design elements to optimize campaign performance.
• Analytics: Real-time reporting helps you track engagement, ROI, and more.

Campaign Monitor can be pricier than some competitors and may not offer as robust automation features as platforms like ActiveCampaign or Drip.

10. HubSpot

If you’re looking for a platform that goes beyond email and encompasses CRM, social media scheduling, blogging, SEO tools, and more, HubSpot might be your ultimate one-stop shop:

• Marketing Hub: Automate email sequences, build landing pages, track leads, and measure campaign ROI.
• CRM Integration: HubSpot’s CRM is free and fully integrates with its Marketing, Sales, and Service Hubs.
• Lead Nurturing: Sophisticated workflows to guide leads through the buyer’s journey.
• Comprehensive Analytics: Unified dashboards that pull data from email, social media, and web traffic, making holistic reporting a breeze.

However, advanced features in HubSpot can come with a steep price tag, making it more suitable for medium to large businesses with the budget to invest in an all-in-one platform.

Choosing the Right Email Marketing Platform for Your Needs

Now that we’ve laid out Cliqly Email Marketing’s strong points and potential drawbacks, as well as introduced you to ten alternatives—starting with Distrobird—the next step is finding the perfect fit for your business needs. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

1. Budget: If you’re a small business or startup, you might start with more affordable (or even free) tiers. As your subscriber list grows, you can revisit your email marketing platform and possibly upgrade to a tool with more advanced features.
2. Features and Functionality: Prioritize your must-have features. Do you need advanced segmentation and automated workflows, or are you primarily looking to send out a simple weekly newsletter? Understanding your core requirements will save you from overpaying for functions you might never use.
3. Scalability: The tool you pick should be able to grow as you do. Evaluate pricing models and ensure that when your subscriber base doubles or triples, you won’t be cornered into prohibitively expensive plans.
4. Ease of Use: If you don’t have a dedicated marketing department or if your team is new to email marketing, opting for a user-friendly platform can make your life simpler. Look for intuitive editors, drag-and-drop automation builders, and easily digestible analytics dashboards.
5. Integrations: Your email marketing solution should smoothly integrate with your CRM, e-commerce platform, analytics tools, or any other essential software you use. Check for native integrations or the availability of third-party integrations like Zapier.
6. Customer Support: If you anticipate needing onboarding help, tutorials, or immediate assistance for technical glitches, make sure the platform you choose has a reputable support system—be it chat, email, or phone support.
7. Deliverability: Even the most beautifully designed and well-segmented campaigns mean nothing if they land in spam folders. Look for a platform with a solid track record of high deliverability rates and robust deliverability monitoring tools.

Conclusion

Cliqly Email Marketing has made its mark by combining user-friendly interfaces, robust automation, and data-driven insights in a single package. Its strengths—such as a diverse template library, effective segmentation options, and solid customer support—make it a valid contender for businesses that want to streamline their email marketing efforts. However, as with any platform, there are downsides to consider, including pricing tiers that can become expensive over time, certain limitations around advanced workflows, and the occasional deliverability challenges.

Whether Cliqly Email Marketing is the best fit will depend on your specific goals, budget, and requirements. If you find yourself needing something different—whether it’s more advanced segmentation, a friendlier price point, or deeper integrations—there are plenty of alternatives available. We’ve introduced ten solid options, with Distrobird being the first among them. Distrobird stands out for its focus on deliverability, adaptive templates, and user-friendly workflows, making it an attractive solution for a wide range of marketers.

Ultimately, the most effective email marketing platform is the one that aligns seamlessly with your objectives. This alignment might mean a platform with advanced features like behavioral-based automations, or it might simply be an easy-to-use interface and essential analytics. The best approach is to assess each contender against your current and future marketing needs, possibly testing a free trial or lower-tier subscription before fully committing.

Remember, email marketing is not a static practice—it’s an ever-evolving process that requires constant optimization. As your business grows and your customers’ preferences shift, so too will your email marketing strategy. Whichever platform you choose, keep a close eye on your metrics, regularly revisit your segmentation strategies, and don’t be afraid to experiment with new approaches. Whether you go with Cliqly Email Marketing, Distrobird, or another option entirely, email marketing remains a powerful, ROI-positive channel that, when utilized intelligently, can fuel your brand’s growth for years to come.