SendervsEmailOctopus

Sender vs EmailOctopus

SMS and templates vs simplicity and savings

TL;DR

Sender offers SMS marketing and 1600+ templates at budget prices. EmailOctopus is even cheaper with an Amazon SES option for maximum savings. Choose Sender for SMS and templates. Choose EmailOctopus for rock-bottom pricing and simplicity.

Key Differences

The main things that set these tools apart

SMS Marketing
Sender wins

Sender includes native SMS marketing. EmailOctopus does not offer SMS at all. For businesses wanting email + SMS from one platform, Sender is the only choice.

Template Volume
Sender wins

Sender has 1600+ templates - significantly more than EmailOctopus's basic selection. For template variety and design options, Sender offers more.

Amazon SES Option
EmailOctopus wins

EmailOctopus offers a Connect plan using Amazon SES for dramatically lower costs. Sender does not have this option. For maximum savings, EmailOctopus + SES wins.

Simplicity
EmailOctopus wins

EmailOctopus is deliberately simple - fewer features, cleaner focus on core email. Sender has more features which means more complexity.

Automation Depth
Sender wins

Sender has better automation with more conditional logic and workflow options. EmailOctopus automation is more basic. For complex sequences, Sender is stronger.

E-commerce
Sender wins

Sender has better e-commerce integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce. EmailOctopus has basic integrations. For e-commerce focus, Sender is more capable.

Pricing Comparison

At 10,000 subscribers

Sender
~$50/month

Standard plan, email + SMS, 1600+ templates.

Visit Sender
EmailOctopus
$45/month

Pro plan, core email features, landing pages.

Visit EmailOctopus
Sequenzy

The SaaS alternative

$49/month

10k contacts, unlimited sends, native Stripe integration.

Feature Comparison

Side-by-side feature breakdown

Feature
Sender
EmailOctopus
Sequenzy
Pricing & Value
10k Contacts Cost
~$50/month
$45/month
$49/month
Free Plan Subscribers
2,500 subscribers
2,500 subscribers
None
Free Plan Emails
15,000/month
10,000/month
None
Amazon SES Option
Yes (Connect plan)
Nonprofit Discount
Limited
20% lifetime
None
Email Features
Template Library
1600+ templates
Basic selection
Component library
Email Builder
Drag-and-drop
Simple drag-and-drop
Visual builder
A/B Testing
Landing Pages
Marketing Channels
SMS Marketing
Built-in
Pop-ups & Forms
Automation
Automation Workflows
Good
Basic
SaaS-focused
Drip Sequences
Conditional Logic
Good
Limited
E-commerce
Shopify Integration
Basic
WooCommerce
Limited
Abandoned Cart
Basic
SaaS Features
Stripe Integration
Native OAuth
Subscription Events
Native

Best For

When to choose each tool

Choose Sender if you...
  • Businesses needing email + SMS together
  • Teams wanting lots of templates
  • E-commerce stores on budgets
  • Companies needing better automation
  • Marketers wanting more features
Choose EmailOctopus if you...
  • Maximum cost savings (with SES)
  • Teams preferring simplicity
  • Nonprofits (20% lifetime discount)
  • Simple newsletter senders
  • Developers comfortable with SES
Choose Sequenzy if you...
  • SaaS companies (not e-commerce)
  • Subscription businesses on Stripe
  • Software companies needing unified email
  • Teams seeking modern SaaS automation

When to Consider Sequenzy Instead

SaaS-Specific Focus

Neither Sender nor EmailOctopus has native Stripe integration. Sequenzy is built for SaaS with subscription lifecycle automation and revenue tracking.

Similar Pricing, Different Focus

At $49/month for 10k subscribers, Sequenzy costs similar to both but with SaaS-specific features like trial conversion, churn prevention, and MRR-based segments.

Unified Transactional + Marketing

Both Sender and EmailOctopus focus on marketing email. Sequenzy includes transactional email in one platform for software businesses.

Try Sequenzy Free

Overview

Sender and EmailOctopus are both budget-friendly email marketing platforms. Sender includes SMS and more templates. EmailOctopus is simpler with an Amazon SES option for maximum savings. See our EmailOctopus comparison for context.

Budget vs Budget

Both platforms compete on affordability. At 10k subscribers: Sender costs around $50/month, EmailOctopus costs $45/month. The difference is small, so features matter more than price.

SMS Marketing

Sender includes native SMS marketing. EmailOctopus does not offer SMS. This is a clear differentiator - if you need email + SMS together, Sender is the only choice between these two.

Template Libraries

Sender has 1600+ templates - a massive library. EmailOctopus has a basic, smaller selection. For template variety and design starting points, Sender offers significantly more options.

The Amazon SES Option

EmailOctopus offers a Connect plan using your own Amazon SES account. This can dramatically reduce costs for high-volume senders but requires technical setup. Sender does not have this option.

Simplicity vs Features

EmailOctopus is deliberately simple - core email features without complexity. Sender has more features (SMS, better automation, e-commerce integrations) which also means more to learn. Choose based on whether you value simplicity or capabilities.

Automation Capabilities

Sender has better automation with more conditional logic and workflow options. EmailOctopus automation handles basic sequences but lacks depth. For complex automated flows, Sender is stronger.

E-commerce Support

Sender has better e-commerce integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, including product blocks and abandoned cart automation. EmailOctopus has basic e-commerce that may feel limited for serious stores.

For Nonprofits

EmailOctopus offers a 20% lifetime discount for nonprofits. Combined with already-low pricing and the SES option, this makes it very attractive for charitable organizations on tight budgets.

For SaaS Companies

Neither platform is built for SaaS specifically. Both lack native Stripe integration. Sequenzy offers Stripe integration with subscription-aware automation at similar pricing for software businesses.

Making the Choice

Choose Sender for SMS marketing, more templates, and better automation/e-commerce. Choose EmailOctopus for maximum simplicity, the SES option, or nonprofit discounts. Both deliver solid value at budget prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

At standard pricing, EmailOctopus is slightly cheaper ($45 vs ~$50 at 10k). However, EmailOctopus's Connect plan with Amazon SES can be dramatically cheaper for high-volume senders. Sender includes SMS which EmailOctopus does not.

No. EmailOctopus focuses purely on email. Sender includes native SMS marketing. For email + SMS needs, Sender is the choice.

EmailOctopus offers a Connect plan where you use your own Amazon SES account. This dramatically reduces per-email costs for high-volume senders but requires technical setup.

Sender has 1600+ templates - far more than EmailOctopus's basic selection. For template variety and design options, Sender is clearly ahead.

Depends on your needs. EmailOctopus handles core email marketing well: newsletters, basic automation, landing pages. If you need SMS, advanced automation, or deep e-commerce, EmailOctopus will feel limited.

EmailOctopus offers a 20% lifetime discount for nonprofits. Combined with already-low pricing, this makes it very attractive for charitable organizations.

Sender has stronger automation with more conditional logic and workflow options. EmailOctopus automation is basic - good for simple sequences but limited for complex flows.

Yes. Sender integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce with product blocks, abandoned cart, and e-commerce automation. EmailOctopus has basic e-commerce but Sender is more capable.

Export subscribers from EmailOctopus. Import into Sender. Rebuild templates using Sender's larger library. Set up automations with more advanced options. You will gain SMS and better e-commerce features.

Export subscribers from Sender. Import into EmailOctopus. Simplify automations for EmailOctopus's more basic system. Note that SMS, advanced automation, and e-commerce depth will not be available. Consider the SES option for cost savings.

Not sure which to pick?

If you're a SaaS founder who needs Stripe integration and unified email, try Sequenzy free. No credit card required.

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Sequenzy - Complete Pricing Guide

Pricing Model

Sequenzy uses subscriber-based pricing. You only pay for subscribers active in sequences (automations). Inactive subscribers are free to store.

All Pricing Tiers

  • 0-100 subscribers: Free (Free annually) - 2k emails/month
  • 101-1,000 subscribers: $19/month ($205/year annually) - 15k emails/month
  • 1,001-5,000 subscribers: $29/month ($313/year annually) - 60k emails/month
  • 5,001-10,000 subscribers: $49/month ($529/year annually) - 120k emails/month
  • 10,001-25,000 subscribers: $99/month ($1069/year annually) - 300k emails/month
  • 25,001-50,000 subscribers: $199/month ($2149/year annually) - 600k emails/month
  • 50,001-100,000 subscribers: $349/month ($3769/year annually) - 1.2M emails/month
  • 100,000+ subscribers: Custom pricing (Custom annually) - Unlimited emails/month

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

Free Plan Features (0-100 subscribers)

  • 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 (1,000 - 100,000 subscribers)

  • 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 (100,000+ subscribers)

  • 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 subscribers who are active in automations/sequences
  • Storing inactive subscribers is free
  • 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