Why Etsy Sellers Need Email Marketing
If you are relying 100% on Etsy search for traffic, you are leaving thousands of dollars on the table every month. Email marketing is the #1 way to turn one-time buyers into repeat customers — and repeat customers spend 3-5X more than new buyers.
But here is the problem: Most email marketing platforms are built for traditional e-commerce or SaaS companies, not Etsy sellers. You do not need complex CRM features or enterprise integrations. You need:
- Simple Etsy integration (or easy workarounds)
- Abandoned cart sequences (if you have an Etsy shop AND your own website)
- Product launch announcements
- Post-purchase follow-ups for reviews and upsells
- Seasonal campaign automation
- Low cost (you are not selling $5K software licenses)
We tested all 4 major email platforms used by Etsy sellers to find out which one actually delivers results.
Head-to-Head Comparison Table
| Feature | MailerLite | ConvertKit | AWeber | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | New shops, tight budget | Creators, digital products | Reliability, support | Established shops, data-driven |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 |
| Free Plan | 1,000 subs | 1,000 subs | 500 subs | 250 contacts |
| Paid From | $9/month | $15/month | $14.99/month | $20/month (scales fast) |
| Automation | Good (even on free) | Excellent | Good | Most powerful |
| E-commerce Focus | Basic | Medium | Medium | Built for it |
| Analytics | Basic | Good | Good | Advanced (revenue attribution) |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium | Easy | Steep |
| Support | Email only | Email + chat | Phone, email, chat | Email + chat |
In-Depth Reviews: Which Tool is Best for You?
🥇 Best for New Shops: MailerLite
Why it wins for beginners: MailerLite has the most generous free plan (1,000 subscribers, 12,000 emails/month) and the lowest paid pricing ($9/month). The interface is clean and modern — you can set up your first email automation in under 30 minutes.
Real-world Etsy use case: Perfect for sellers doing under $3K/month who want to build an email list without monthly costs. You can create post-purchase follow-up sequences, seasonal sale announcements, and new product launches without paying a dime until you hit 1,000 subscribers.
What you give up: Less robust e-commerce analytics than Klaviyo, fewer integrations than ConvertKit, no phone support. But honestly, at this revenue level, you do not need those features.
Best for: New shops, budget-conscious sellers, simple email needs
Read Full MailerLite Review →🥈 Best for Creators: ConvertKit
Why it wins for creators: ConvertKit is built for people who sell digital products, courses, and content. If you are an Etsy seller with printables, templates, or patterns, ConvertKit is perfect. The automation builder is visual and intuitive, and you can sell digital products directly through ConvertKit.
Real-world Etsy use case: Let's say you sell wedding invitation templates. You can use ConvertKit to:
- Automatically send a "how to customize your template" email after purchase
- Tag buyers by which template style they bought
- Send targeted launch emails when you release new templates in that style
- Sell add-ons (matching thank you cards, RSVP templates) directly via email
What you give up: Not as e-commerce focused as Klaviyo (no revenue attribution), more expensive than MailerLite once you scale.
Best for: Digital product sellers, printables, templates, patterns
Read Full ConvertKit Review →🥉 Best for Reliability: AWeber
Why it wins for reliability: AWeber has been around since 1998 (older than Gmail!). They are not the flashiest, but they have rock-solid deliverability, phone support, and you will never wake up to a platform outage. If you value "just works" over "cutting edge features," AWeber is your tool.
Real-world Etsy use case: Perfect for sellers who want set-it-and-forget-it email automation. Create a simple 3-email sequence (thank you, request review, share new products) and let it run for years without touching it.
What you give up: The interface feels dated compared to MailerLite or ConvertKit. Fewer templates, less robust analytics.
Best for: Sellers wanting proven reliability, phone support, simple automation
Read Full AWeber Review →👑 Best for Established Shops: Klaviyo
Why it wins for serious sellers: Klaviyo is the most powerful e-commerce email platform, period. You can see exactly how much revenue each email generates, segment customers by purchase behavior, and create flows that would take weeks to build in other tools.
Real-world Etsy use case: If you are doing $5K+/month, Klaviyo pays for itself by:
- Identifying your highest-value customers and sending them VIP early access to new products
- Automatically sending win-back emails to customers who bought 6 months ago but not since
- Showing you exactly which email subject lines drive the most revenue (not just opens)
- Creating SMS campaigns for high-intent buyers
What you give up: Klaviyo is expensive. A 5,000-subscriber list costs $100-150/month (vs $40-50 on ConvertKit). The learning curve is steep. You will need to invest time learning the platform.
The ROI equation: If email marketing drives 15-20% of your revenue (typical for shops using Klaviyo), a $5K/month shop earns $750-1,000/month from email. Paying $100/month for Klaviyo is a 7-10X ROI.
Best for: Shops doing $5K+/month, data-driven sellers, repeat-purchase products
Read Full Klaviyo Review →Pricing Breakdown: What You Will Actually Pay
Email marketing pricing scales with your list size. Here is what you will actually pay at different business sizes:
| List Size | MailerLite | ConvertKit | AWeber | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1,000 | FREE | FREE | $14.99/mo | $20/mo |
| 1,001-2,500 | $18/mo | $41/mo | $29/mo | $60/mo |
| 2,501-5,000 | $27/mo | $66/mo | $49/mo | $100-150/mo |
| 5,001-10,000 | $39/mo | $83/mo | $69/mo | $150-200/mo |
Winner on price: MailerLite is the cheapest at every tier. ConvertKit is mid-range. Klaviyo is the most expensive, but if you are doing enough revenue, the ROI justifies the cost.
Common Mistakes Etsy Sellers Make with Email Marketing
❌ Mistake #1: Not Building an Email List at All
The problem: You are 100% dependent on Etsy search and ads. If Etsy changes the algorithm (which they do constantly), your traffic vanishes overnight.
The fix: Start collecting emails TODAY. Even 100 subscribers is better than zero. Use package inserts with QR codes to a landing page offering 10% off next purchase.
❌ Mistake #2: Using the Wrong Tool for Your Revenue Level
The problem: New sellers sign up for Klaviyo because a YouTuber recommended it, then get overwhelmed and never actually send emails. Or established sellers use MailerLite and leave thousands in revenue on the table.
The fix: Use our quick answer guide at the top of this page. Start simple and upgrade as you grow.
❌ Mistake #3: Only Sending Promotional Emails
The problem: If every email is "20% off this weekend!" your unsubscribe rate will be 10%+ and people will mark you as spam.
The fix: Mix in value emails: how-to guides, behind-the-scenes content, customer stories. Aim for 70% value, 30% promotion.
Final Verdict: Which Tool Should You Choose?
Here is our honest recommendation based on testing all 4 platforms with real Etsy shops:
🏆 If You Are Just Starting Out
Go with MailerLite. The free plan is generous, the interface is modern, and you can set up your first automation in 30 minutes. Once you hit 1,000 subscribers or need more advanced features, reevaluate.
Start with MailerLite →🏆 If You Sell Digital Products
Go with ConvertKit. The ability to sell digital products directly through email, tag-based automation, and creator-friendly features make it perfect for printables, templates, and patterns.
Start with ConvertKit →🏆 If You Are Doing $5K+/Month
Upgrade to Klaviyo. Yes, it is more expensive. Yes, there is a learning curve. But the revenue attribution, advanced segmentation, and predictive analytics will pay for themselves many times over.
Start with Klaviyo →Bottom line: Do not overthink this. Pick the tool that matches your current revenue level, set up one simple automation this week (post-purchase thank you email), and send it. You can always switch later.
The #1 mistake is analysis paralysis. The #2 mistake is not building your email list at all. Just start.