Updated 2026-03-15

Best Email Marketing Tools for Franchises

Maintain brand consistency across locations while empowering local marketing with the right email platform.

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Franchise email marketing has a unique challenge: maintaining brand consistency across dozens or hundreds of locations while letting individual franchisees market to their local audiences. Corporate needs brand-approved templates and centralized reporting. Franchisees need the ability to send local promotions and manage their customer relationships. The right platform balances both. I tested and reviewed 13 email marketing tools specifically for franchise use cases, ranking them on multi-location management, brand controls, local marketing features, and pricing structures.

TL;DR

Sequenzy is the best value for franchises because its pay-per-email pricing scales affordably across many locations, and the AI generates location-specific sequences without requiring franchisee marketing expertise. There is also a free tier up to 2,500 emails per month per location. Campaign Monitor is the top pick for brand control with its locked-template system. ActiveCampaign wins for franchises needing sophisticated automation and CRM per location.

Why Franchises Need Email Marketing

Brand Consistency

Every location represents the brand. Email marketing with approved templates ensures every franchisee sends on-brand communications. Corporate controls the look and message while locations customize the local details.

Local Market Engagement

Each franchise location serves a unique local market. Email lets individual locations promote local events, seasonal specials, and community involvement while staying within brand guidelines.

Centralized Reporting

Corporate needs visibility into email performance across all locations. Centralized reporting shows which locations are excelling, which need support, and overall brand email performance metrics.

Scalable Marketing

Creating email campaigns for every location individually is impractical. A franchise-friendly platform lets corporate create campaigns once and deploy across all locations with local customization.

Franchises Email Marketing Benchmarks

Know these numbers before you start. They'll help you set realistic goals and pick the right tool.

22-28%
Average Open Rate

Franchise emails perform at average industry rates. Local, personalized emails from individual locations tend to outperform generic corporate broadcasts.

2-4%
Average Click Rate

Click rates improve when emails include location-specific offers and clear calls to action with the local address and hours.

Varies by industry and location
Best Send Time

Restaurant franchises perform best before mealtimes. Service franchises perform best on weekday mornings. Test per location rather than applying one send time across all locations.

Target 80%+ active locations
Franchisee Adoption Rate

The biggest metric for franchise email programs is how many locations are actively sending. If half your locations never email, you are leaving revenue on the table. Measure and push for 80%+ adoption.

Important Tips Before You Choose

Lessons from franchiseswho've been doing this for years. Save yourself the trial and error.

Standardize Your Welcome Sequence Across All Locations

Build one brand-approved welcome sequence at corporate and deploy it to every location. Each location customizes only the local details - address, hours, team photo, and local offers. This ensures every new customer gets the same quality experience regardless of which location they visit.

Use Pay-Per-Email Pricing to Control Multi-Location Costs

Contact-based pricing is a trap for franchises. If each location has 2,000 contacts at $30/month per location, a 50-location franchise pays $1,500/month just for email. Pay-per-email tools charge only when sending, which can cut costs by 50-70% for locations that email infrequently.

Create a Content Library for Franchisees

Build a library of approved email templates for common scenarios: seasonal promotions, new product launches, loyalty rewards, and event announcements. Franchisees pick from the library and customize local details. This saves them time and keeps communications on-brand.

Track Performance by Location to Identify Coaching Opportunities

Compare email metrics across locations monthly. Locations with below-average open rates may need subject line coaching. Locations with high unsubscribe rates may be sending too frequently. Use the data to provide targeted support rather than blanket training.

Give Franchisees a Monthly Email Calendar

Many franchisees do not send emails because they do not know what to send. Provide a monthly calendar with suggested emails, pre-written copy, and approved images. All they need to do is customize local details and hit send.

Separate Local and National Campaigns

Corporate-led national campaigns should be clearly identified as coming from the brand. Local promotions should feel personal from the franchisee. Mixing the two confuses customers and dilutes both messages.

13 Best Email Marketing Tools for Franchises

Our Top Pick for Franchises
#1
Sequenzy

AI-powered email marketing with smart automation sequences and pay-per-email pricing.

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I put Sequenzy first for franchises because the AI and pricing model solve two major franchise pain points. The AI sequence builder creates location-specific campaigns in seconds, which eliminates the need for each franchisee to have marketing expertise - a franchisee can describe their local promotion and the AI generates a complete email sequence with subject lines, timing, and content. The free tier gives each location up to 2,500 emails per month at no cost, which is enough for many smaller locations. On the paid plan, the pay-per-email pricing at $29 for 50,000 emails per location is dramatically cheaper than contact-based pricing across multiple locations. For a 50-location franchise, the savings versus per-contact pricing can be tens of thousands of dollars annually. The interface is simple enough that franchisees without marketing backgrounds can send professional local promotions.

Best for
Franchises wanting AI-powered efficiency with scalable per-location pricing
Pricing
Free up to 2,500 emails/mo, then $29/mo for 50K emails (unlimited contacts)

Pros

  • AI generates location-specific sequences instantly
  • Pay-per-email scales affordably across locations
  • Simple enough for franchisees without marketing expertise
  • Direct founder support for franchise partnerships

Cons

  • Newer platform with a growing feature set
  • No built-in SMS marketing
  • Smaller template library compared to established platforms
  • No centralized franchise dashboard yet
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#2
Mailchimp

The most recognized email marketing platform with multi-location support.

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Mailchimp is widely used by franchises because franchisees often already know the platform. This reduces training time significantly - a major practical advantage when onboarding new locations. Shared brand templates maintain visual consistency across locations, and the audience management tools handle local subscriber lists adequately. The automation covers welcome sequences and basic promotional campaigns. Where Mailchimp struggles for franchises is cost at scale - each location needs its own account, and per-location costs add up quickly. A 50-location franchise with 2,000 contacts per location faces substantial monthly costs. There is also no centralized franchise management dashboard, so corporate must check each account individually.

Best for
Franchises wanting a platform franchisees already know
Pricing
Free up to 500 contacts per location, then from $13/month

Pros

  • Brand recognition
  • Shared templates
  • Easy for franchisees
  • Wide integrations

Cons

  • Expensive across many locations
  • Basic automation
  • No centralized franchise tools
  • Support quality issues
See Full Comparison
#3
Constant Contact

Email marketing with event management for small businesses.

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Constant Contact has served multi-location businesses for years and brings practical advantages for franchises. The phone support is genuinely helpful for franchisees who need hands-on guidance - they can call and get walked through building a local promotion. Event management features work for locations that host events, open houses, or community activities. Templates cover common franchise needs adequately. The platform is dated in terms of interface and automation capabilities, but its simplicity means high adoption rates among non-technical franchisees. Per-location costs start at $12/month for 500 contacts and scale with list size.

Best for
Franchises that host events at individual locations
Pricing
From $12/month per location

Pros

  • Event management
  • Phone support
  • Multi-location experience
  • Decent templates

Cons

  • Dated interface
  • Per-location costs
  • Basic automation
  • No centralized dashboard
See Full Comparison
#4
ActiveCampaign

Advanced automation with CRM and multi-account capabilities.

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ActiveCampaign is the most powerful option for franchises that need sophisticated customer lifecycle management at each location. The CRM tracks customer interactions and value across touchpoints. The automation builder handles complex sequences like VIP programs, loyalty tiers, and service follow-ups. For high-value franchise models like home services, financial services, or fitness, the customer lifecycle sophistication pays for itself. The agency partner program helps franchise corporate offices manage multiple location accounts. The drawback is per-location cost - at $29/month for 1,000 contacts per location, a multi-location franchise faces significant monthly expenses. Training franchisees on the complex interface is also a real challenge.

Best for
High-value franchises with complex customer lifecycle needs
Pricing
$29/month per location for 1,000 contacts

Pros

  • Powerful automation
  • CRM included
  • Advanced segmentation
  • Agency partner program

Cons

  • Expensive per location
  • Steep learning curve
  • Complex for basic needs
  • Requires training
See Full Comparison
#5
Brevo

Affordable email and SMS marketing with CRM.

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Brevo's pay-by-email pricing makes it one of the most affordable options for multi-location franchises. Each location can store unlimited contacts on the free tier with 300 emails per day, which keeps base costs near zero. SMS for appointment reminders and local promotions is included, adding value for service-based franchises. The CRM tracks customer interactions at each location. For franchises watching costs across many locations, Brevo keeps the per-location bill lower than most alternatives. The trade-off is basic automation, no franchise-specific management features, and an interface that is less polished.

Best for
Budget-conscious franchises wanting email, SMS, and CRM
Pricing
Free up to 300 emails/day per location, then from $25/month

Pros

  • Pay by emails
  • SMS included
  • CRM included
  • Affordable per location

Cons

  • Basic automation
  • No franchise-specific features
  • Less polished
  • Daily limits on free
See Full Comparison
#6
MailerLite

Clean, simple email marketing with generous free tier.

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MailerLite's free tier covering 1,000 subscribers per location makes it a practical starting point for new franchise locations building their initial customer lists. The interface is clean enough that franchisees without marketing experience can build and send emails independently. Corporate can provide template designs that locations customize. Website builder and landing pages help locations capture local leads. The main limitation is no franchise-specific features - there is no centralized management, no brand locking, and no cross-location reporting. For smaller franchises with 5-15 locations where corporate can manage oversight informally, MailerLite works. For larger operations, the lack of centralized tools becomes a problem.

Best for
Franchises wanting the simplest, most affordable per-location solution
Pricing
Free up to 1,000 subscribers per location

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Clean interface
  • Free tier
  • Easy for franchisees

Cons

  • No franchise features
  • Limited automation
  • Strict approval
  • Basic reporting
See Full Comparison
#7
Kit

Creator-focused platform with generous free tier.

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Kit's free tier supporting 10,000 subscribers makes it attractive for franchise locations that build local audiences through content marketing. If your franchise model involves local content creation - fitness studios sharing workout tips, restaurants sharing recipes, or service businesses sharing educational content - Kit handles this well. Landing pages capture local leads. The simplicity works for franchisees. The significant limitation is no multi-location management, no brand controls, and no features designed for franchise coordination. It works as individual location accounts, not as a unified franchise system.

Best for
Content-driven franchise locations building local audiences
Pricing
Free up to 10,000 subscribers per location

Pros

  • Generous free tier
  • Landing pages
  • Simple
  • Tag organization

Cons

  • No franchise features
  • Limited design
  • No multi-location tools
  • Basic reporting
#8
GetResponse

All-in-one marketing platform with email, landing pages, and webinars.

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GetResponse's MAX plan offers multi-user access and sub-accounts that work reasonably well for franchise structures. Corporate can create master templates and share them across location sub-accounts. Landing pages work for local promotions and event signups. Webinar features can be used for franchisee training sessions. The pricing scales reasonably for multi-location setups on the MAX tier, though you need to negotiate enterprise pricing. For standard plans, each location has a separate account with per-contact pricing.

Best for
Franchises wanting landing pages and training webinars alongside email
Pricing
From $15.60/month per location, MAX plans for enterprise

Pros

  • Multi-user sub-accounts
  • Landing pages
  • Webinars for training
  • MAX enterprise plans

Cons

  • Cluttered interface
  • Average automation
  • Not franchise-specialized
  • Complex pricing
See Full Comparison
#9
Campaign Monitor

Professional email marketing with multi-account management.

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Campaign Monitor is arguably the best platform for franchise brand control specifically. The brand-locked template system lets corporate create templates where headers, footers, colors, and fonts are fixed while content areas are editable by franchisees. The multi-account management dashboard provides centralized reporting across all locations. Email quality is professional and polished. These franchise-friendly features come with trade-offs: limited automation, per-contact pricing that adds up across locations, and a lack of AI or advanced marketing features. For franchises where brand consistency is the top priority, Campaign Monitor delivers.

Best for
Franchises wanting brand-locked templates and professional quality
Pricing
From $9/month per location

Pros

  • Brand-locked templates
  • Multi-account management
  • Professional quality
  • Reliable

Cons

  • Limited automation
  • Per-contact pricing
  • No free tier
  • Basic features
See Full Comparison
#10
Klaviyo

E-commerce email platform with multi-account support.

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Klaviyo is relevant for franchises with an e-commerce component - restaurant chains with online ordering, retail franchises with online stores, or service franchises selling products alongside services. Revenue attribution shows which emails drive sales per location. Product recommendations personalize emails based on local purchase patterns. SMS is included. The pricing is high for multi-location deployment at $20+/month per location based on contacts, making it best suited for franchise models where email-driven revenue justifies the investment.

Best for
E-commerce and retail franchise chains
Pricing
From $20/month per location

Pros

  • E-commerce integration
  • Revenue attribution
  • Product recommendations
  • SMS included

Cons

  • Expensive per location
  • E-commerce focused
  • Complex setup
  • Overkill for services
See Full Comparison
#11
Flodesk

Beautiful email marketing with flat-rate pricing.

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Flodesk's flat-rate pricing at $38/month per location eliminates the unpredictability of contact-based pricing - franchisees know exactly what email costs regardless of list growth. The templates are among the most visually beautiful available, ensuring every location sends premium-looking emails. The simplicity means high adoption rates among non-technical franchisees. The limitations are meaningful for franchise operations: basic automation only, no multi-location management tools, no brand locking, and no centralized reporting.

Best for
Brand-focused franchises wanting premium-looking emails
Pricing
$38/month flat rate per location

Pros

  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Beautiful designs
  • Brand consistency
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Basic automation
  • No multi-location tools
  • No free tier
  • Limited integrations
See Full Comparison
#12
AWeber

Reliable email platform with phone support.

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AWeber offers reliable email with phone support, and the free tier covering 500 subscribers helps get new locations started at minimal cost. The platform is simple and dependable. For franchises with basic email needs - monthly newsletters, seasonal promotions, and welcome emails - AWeber handles the fundamentals. The dated interface, limited automation, and lack of any franchise-specific features make it a fallback option rather than a first choice for franchise operations.

Best for
Simple franchise locations wanting reliable basics
Pricing
Free up to 500 subscribers per location

Pros

  • Phone support
  • Reliable
  • Free tier
  • Simple

Cons

  • No franchise features
  • Dated
  • Limited automation
  • Basic everything
See Full Comparison
#13
Moosend

Budget-friendly email marketing with basic features.

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Moosend is the cheapest paid option at $9 per location per month, which minimizes the per-location cost across a franchise network. At that price, you get automation workflows, landing pages, and templates. For cost-sensitive franchises where per-location email expense needs to stay under $10/month, Moosend delivers the basics. The trade-off is a less established platform, limited support resources, and no franchise-specific management features.

Best for
Cost-sensitive franchises wanting the lowest per-location price
Pricing
From $9/month per location

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Decent automation
  • Landing pages
  • Low per-location cost

Cons

  • Less well-known
  • No franchise features
  • Limited support
  • Basic library
See Full Comparison

Feature Comparison

FeatureSequenzyMailchimpActiveCampaignCampaign Monitor
Multi-location management
Via accounts
Basic
Yes
Yes
AI-powered sequences
Yes
No
No
No
Brand-locked templates
No
Shared
No
Yes
Centralized reporting
No
Basic
Yes
Yes
SMS marketing
No
No
Yes
No
Pay-per-email pricing
Yes
No
No
No
Free tier available
Yes
Yes
No
No
Phone support
No
No
No
No

Common Mistakes to Avoid

We see these mistakes over and over. Skip the learning curve and avoid these from day one.

Letting Each Location Choose Their Own Email Platform

When every location uses a different tool, corporate loses visibility into performance, brand consistency suffers, and the franchise cannot leverage bulk pricing. Standardize on one platform even if it means some compromise on individual feature preferences.

Corporate Sending All Emails Without Local Customization

A generic national email with no local address, hours, or team information feels impersonal. Customers have a relationship with their local location, not with the corporate brand. Every email should include the local location details.

Not Training Franchisees on Email Marketing

Providing a tool without training is like giving someone a car without driving lessons. Include email marketing training in your franchisee onboarding program and provide ongoing support for common tasks like building promotions and interpreting metrics.

Ignoring Deliverability Across Locations

One location with bad email practices (purchased lists, spammy content) can damage the sending reputation for all locations if they share a domain. Monitor deliverability per location and address issues quickly.

Over-Emailing Customers Who Visit Multiple Locations

If a customer is on the list for three different locations, they might receive three versions of the same national promotion. Deduplicate across locations for national campaigns and let local campaigns come only from the primary location.

Email Sequences Every Franchise Needs

These are the essential automated email sequences that will help you grow your business and keep clients coming back.

New Customer Welcome

First visit or purchase at a location

Welcome new customers and encourage a return visit to build loyalty.

Immediately
Welcome to {{location_name}} - thanks for visiting

Personal welcome from the location. Thank them for their visit. Include a return-visit incentive.

Day 3
Get to know your local {{brand_name}}

Introduce the local team, specialties, and community involvement. Build personal connection with the location.

Day 7
{{first_name}}, here is 15% off your next visit

Return-visit incentive to drive the second transaction where loyalty begins.

Location-Specific Promotion

Corporate campaign launch

Deploy brand-approved promotions customized for each location.

Campaign start
{{promotion_name}} at your local {{brand_name}}

National promotion with local customization. Location address, hours, and any location-specific details.

Mid-campaign
Have you tried {{promotion}}? Your neighbors love it

Reminder with local social proof. Customer reviews from the specific location.

Campaign end
Last chance for {{promotion}} at {{location_name}}

Final urgency push with location-specific CTA.

Loyalty Program

Purchase milestone reached

Reward repeat customers and encourage continued patronage.

After 5th visit
You have earned a reward - thank you for being a loyal customer

Loyalty reward notification. Thank them for continued patronage. Include the reward details.

After 10th visit
VIP status unlocked - exclusive perks inside

Elevated loyalty tier with additional benefits. Make them feel special and valued.

Review and Referral

Service completed

Generate reviews and referrals from satisfied customers.

1 day after
How was your visit to {{location_name}}?

Feedback request with direct link to Google review for the specific location.

7 days after
Love {{brand_name}}? Share with a friend and you both save

Referral program with incentive for both the referrer and the new customer.

Create These Sequences with AI

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Franchise

The best tool depends on your franchise size, budget model, and how much control corporate needs over the brand experience.

If Cost Across Locations Is the Priority

Pay-per-email platforms like Sequenzy and Brevo minimize per-location expenses. Free tiers from Sequenzy, MailerLite, and Kit also help during location ramp-up periods. For a 50-location franchise, the difference between pay-per-email and per-contact pricing can be tens of thousands of dollars annually.

If Brand Control Matters Most

Campaign Monitor offers the best brand-locked template system in the industry. Corporate designs templates with fixed brand elements and editable content sections. Franchisees cannot accidentally change the logo, colors, or footer. The centralized reporting dashboard shows performance across all locations.

If You Need Sophistication

ActiveCampaign provides the most powerful automation and CRM per location. For franchise models with higher customer lifetime values - home services, fitness, financial services - the investment in automation and customer tracking pays dividends through better retention and upselling.

The Franchise Email Playbook

Strategy 1: Standardized Welcome Sequence

Every new customer at every location should receive the same quality welcome experience. Corporate builds the template with the brand story, value proposition, and return-visit incentive. Each location customizes with their address, hours, team photo, and any location-specific details. This ensures consistency while feeling personal.

Strategy 2: National Campaigns with Local Deployment

Corporate creates seasonal promotions, product launches, and brand campaigns once. These deploy to all locations with automatic local customization - each recipient sees their local address, team, and any location-specific variations. This is the most efficient way to market across a franchise network.

Strategy 3: Location-Specific Promotions

Individual locations send promotions relevant to their local market. Seasonal specials based on local conditions, community event sponsorships, local team introductions, and neighborhood-specific offers build the local connection that drives repeat business. Corporate provides the template framework and locations fill in the content.

Strategy 4: Performance-Based Coaching

Compare email metrics across locations monthly. Top-performing locations become case studies and training examples. Under-performing locations receive targeted coaching. Share winning subject lines, successful promotions, and effective email timing across the network.

Multi-Location Cost Comparison

Here is what email marketing costs across a 25-location franchise with 2,000 contacts per location:

  • Sequenzy (pay per email, moderate sending): Approximately $725/month total
  • Brevo (pay per email): Approximately $625-750/month total
  • Mailchimp (per contact): Approximately $1,000-1,500/month total
  • ActiveCampaign (per contact): Approximately $1,500-2,000/month total
  • Campaign Monitor (per contact): Approximately $500-1,000/month total

These are rough estimates and vary based on actual sending volume and plan tiers, but the pattern is clear: pay-per-email pricing saves franchises significant money.

Getting Started with Franchise Email Marketing

  1. Choose one platform and standardize across all locations for efficiency and reporting
  2. Create brand-approved templates with locked brand elements and editable content sections
  3. Build a standardized welcome sequence for every location to deploy immediately
  4. Train franchisees on the platform during their onboarding program
  5. Provide a monthly email calendar with suggested sends and pre-written content
  6. Establish reporting so corporate can track performance across locations monthly
  7. Start with 5-10 pilot locations before rolling out to the full network

What a Healthy Franchise Email Program Looks Like

A well-run franchise email program has:

  • 80%+ location adoption: At least 4 out of 5 locations are actively sending emails
  • Consistent open rates of 22-28% across the network with local emails outperforming national ones
  • Monthly sending by every active location: At minimum, one email per month from every participating location
  • Corporate visibility: Monthly reporting on per-location metrics with coaching for under-performers
  • Growing local lists: Each location adding 20-50 new subscribers per month through consistent collection

The franchise networks that win at email marketing are the ones that make it easy for every location to execute consistently while maintaining the brand standard that customers expect.

How We Evaluated These Tools

We evaluated each platform by simulating a 10-location franchise setup, testing template sharing and locking capabilities, measuring per-location costs at realistic contact sizes, and assessing how easily a non-technical franchisee could send a local promotion using corporate-provided templates.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses email-volume-based pricing. You only pay for emails you send. Unlimited contacts on all plans — storing subscribers is always free.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 2.5k emails/month: Free (Free annually)
  • 15k emails/month: $19/month ($205/year annually)
  • 60k emails/month: $29/month ($313/year annually)
  • 120k emails/month: $49/month ($529/year annually)
  • 300k emails/month: $99/month ($1069/year annually)
  • 600k emails/month: $199/month ($2149/year annually)
  • 1.2M emails/month: $349/month ($3769/year annually)
  • Unlimited emails/month: Custom pricing (Custom annually)

Yearly billing: All plans offer a 10% discount when billed annually.

Free Plan Features (2,500 emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Paid Plan Features (15k - 1.2M emails/month)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations (Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy)
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Enterprise Plan Features (Unlimited emails)

  • Visual automation builder
  • Transactional email API
  • Reply tracking & team inbox
  • Goal tracking & revenue attribution
  • Dynamic segments
  • Payment integrations
  • Full REST API access
  • Custom sending domain

Important Pricing Notes

  • You only pay for emails you send — unlimited contacts on all plans
  • No hidden fees - all features included in the price
  • No credit card required for free tier

Contact

  • Pricing Page: https://sequenzy.com/pricing
  • Sales: hello@sequenzy.com