EmailOctopus Review 2025: Budget Email Marketing Platform

Looking to grow your email list and boost affiliate marketing campaigns? EmailOctopus is a budget-friendly email marketing tool that's perfect for beginners and small businesses. With a free plan that includes up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month, plus a Pro plan starting at just $9/month, EmailOctopus is an affordable option for those looking to scale without breaking the bank.

While the platform’s automation features are basic and its template library is smaller compared to premium tools, it still provides essential email marketing functionality for growing your business. In my experience, I used EmailOctopus to run simple affiliate campaigns for Hostinger (a leading web hosting provider) and Printful (a popular print-on-demand Dropshipping service), earning $460 in commissions with a straightforward drip campaign.

In this 2025 review, I’ll share my real-world results, the pros and cons of using EmailOctopus, and practical tips for growing your email list, nurturing your audience, and boosting affiliate sales with this affordable email marketing tool.

Why EmailOctopus Works for Side Hustlers & SMEs

EmailOctopus runs on Amazon SES, meaning your emails get 80–90% deliverability at a fraction of the cost of bigger platforms.

For side hustlers

• Send affiliate marketing newsletters with no upfront costs.

• Use landing pages to capture leads from TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube.

For SMEs

• Create simple product promotions and customer updates.

• Build forms to grow your eCommerce mailing list.

My Results: I sent a Printful affiliate newsletter in July 2025 to almost 33000 subscribers. It took 15 minutes to create, got a 48% open rate, and earned $320 in one week.

My 30-Day EmailOctopus Experience

Here’s what I accomplished in my first month:

Key Features of EmailOctopus in 2025

1. Email Campaigns & Templates

The drag-and-drop editor is clean and beginner-friendly, with 100+ modern templates for newsletters and promos. I built a Hostinger email in 15 minutes, but creative flexibility is limited compared to competitors.

• Pros: Mobile-optimized, easy to edit, no coding needed.

• Cons: Only 113 templates, no pre-built content blocks.

• Best Use: Affiliate newsletters, small business promos.

💡 Pro Tip: Use merge tags for personalization to boost open rates by up to 5%.

2. Basic Automation

The visual builder supports simple drip campaigns like welcome sequences or time-based follow-ups.

• Pros: Beginner-friendly, no steep learning curve.

• Cons: Lacks advanced triggers, no A/B testing.

• Best Use: Onboarding new leads, affiliate follow-up campaigns.

3. Forms & Landing Pages

Choose from 5 landing page templates and customizable pop-up, inline, or slide-in forms.

• Pros: Easy setup, WordPress integration.

• Cons: Limited templates, no gamified forms or advanced analytics.

• Best Use: Capturing leads from TikTok, Instagram, or website traffic.

EmailOctopus Pricing (2025)

💡 Verdict: The free plan is one of the most generous on the market, and Pro offers excellent value for growing lists.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Free plan with 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails/month.

• Affordable Pro plan ($9/month for 500 contacts).

• Simple interface; campaigns built in 10–15 minutes.

• Amazon SES ensures 80–90% delivery rates.

• 62 native integrations (e.g., Shopify) and via Zapier for 6,000+ apps.

Cons

• Limited automation (no behavioral triggers or A/B testing).

• Only 110 templates; no dark mode preview.

• Customer support can be slow or inconsistent for free users.

• No eCommerce data integration (e.g., WooCommerce order data).

EmailOctopus vs. Competitors

Want to Take Your Email Game to the Next Level? Check Out Our In-Depth Email Marketing Comparison for 2025!

Who Should Use EmailOctopus?

• Side Hustlers: Free plan for your email campaigns; saves time and money.

• Small Businesses: Affordable email marketing for eCommerce promos or lead capture.

• Content Creators: Build TikTok/YouTube audiences with simple newsletters.

Who Should Skip It?

• Advanced marketers who need complex automation (try ActiveCampaign).

• Those wanting interactive AMP emails (use SendPulse).

Final Verdict: 8.2/10 (Our Score)

EmailOctopus is a budget-friendly gem for side hustlers and SMEs in 2025, with a generous free plan and a $9/month Pro plan. Its simplicity and Amazon SES delivery (80–90%) are perfect for broke beginners, but limited automation and templates hold it back for advanced users. I earned $460 in commissions with minimal effort, great for starters!

Ready to Start? Get EmailOctopus Free.

FAQs: EmailOctopus for Side Hustles (2025)

Q: Is EmailOctopus free for affiliate marketing?
A: Yes, the free plan (2,500 subscribers, 10,000 emails) supports email campaigns. I earned $460 with a free plan drip sequence. Start Free.

Q: How does EmailOctopus help side hustles?
A: It's free plan and simple editor let you send affiliate newsletters fast. I built a Hostinger campaign in 15 minutes, saving 3 hours weekly.

Q: Is EmailOctopus beginner-friendly?
A: Extremely! The dashboard is clean, and campaigns take 10–15 minutes. Automation setup is simple but basic.

Q: Can SMEs use EmailOctopus for Instagram campaigns?
A: Yes, use pop-up forms to capture Instagram leads. I added 20 subscribers from TikTok traffic. Limited analytics, though. Start Free.

Note: Based on EmailOctopus, August 2025; check their site for updates.

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Transparency Note: This review includes affiliate links, but I tested EmailOctopus as a paying user for unbiased results. Share your experience by joining us!