If you’re creating online courses — whether you sell them on your own site or through platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, or Thinkific — your email software is one of the most important tools you’ll ever choose.
The right email platform helps you:
- Welcome new students
- Deliver automated course content
- Run cart promotions
- Segment based on behavior
- Increase completions and retention
In this guide, we’re comparing the best email software for online courses — from creator-friendly tools to more advanced options.
Before we start, if you’re trying to decide whether ConvertKit fits your course business, my ConvertKit review for creators breaks it down in depth.
Why Course Creators Need Strong Email Software
Email is not just a delivery tool — it’s your course content backbone.
With the right software, you can:
- Send drip lessons automatically
- Tag students based on actions
- Run upsells and cross-sells
- Reactivate inactive students
- Track engagement data
A course without email is like a shop without a front door.
Now let’s look at the best tools available today.
ConvertKit — Best All-Around for Course Creators
ConvertKit is built for creators and works exceptionally well for online courses.
What Converts Creators Love
- Automated lesson delivery: Send modules on a schedule
- Tag-based segmentation: Track who finished lessons
- Easy funnels: Sell and onboard from one place
- Clean subscriber management: No duplicate lists
ConvertKit’s simplicity is its power — you don’t need tech skills to build course automations.
If you’re curious about pricing, my ConvertKit pricing explained guide walks through what each tier includes.
Best for:
Course creators who want automation without complexity
ActiveCampaign — Best for Advanced Automations
ActiveCampaign is more powerful if your course delivery and sales processes are complex.
Why It’s Strong
- Advanced automation builder
- Predictive sending and lead scoring
- Built-in CRM
- Deep segmentation
Things to Know
- Steeper learning curve
- Pricier than simpler tools
- Can be overkill for basic courses
ActiveCampaign is ideal if you plan to:
- Personalize pathways based on engagement
- Run multi-offer funnels
- Manage both sales and support automation
Best for:
Course creators with complex funnels or large audiences
MailerLite — Budget-Friendly, Easy to Use
MailerLite is a great choice if you want good automation at a lower price.
Pros
- Affordable plans
- Solid automations
- Landing pages and forms included
Cons
- Not as robust segmentation as ConvertKit
- Less creator-centric features
MailerLite gives you lots of value without a high price tag — perfect for early-stage creators.
Best for:
Course creators on a budget
Mailchimp — Good for Course + E-Commerce Hybrids
Mailchimp is a long-standing email marketing platform, best for creators who also sell physical products or run ecommerce alongside courses.
Pros
- Deep e-commerce integration
- Lots of templates
- Reporting & analytics
Cons
- List-based system (can cost more for duplicates)
- Less intuitive for course funnels
Mailchimp works, but creators often prefer tools that are more automation-focused.
Best for:
Course creators with e-commerce or frequent promotions
Beehiiv — Newsletter + Monetization
Beehiiv is a newer tool that’s gaining traction for newsletter creators, but it can still work for simple course delivery.
Pros
- Clean UI
- Monetization features
- Referral tools
Cons
- Not built specifically for course automations
- Less advanced than ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign
This is a good choice if you focus heavily on newsletters with occasional course content tied in.
Best for:
Newsletter-centric course creators
Comparison Table (Quick Look)
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan | Automation | Course Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ConvertKit | All-around creator courses | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| ActiveCampaign | Advanced automation | ❌ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| MailerLite | Budget-friendly | ✔️ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mailchimp | Ecommerce + courses | ✔️ | ✔ | ⚠️ |
| Beehiiv | Newsletter + monetization | ✔️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Course
Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
Pick ConvertKit if:
- You want simple but powerful automations
- You deliver course content by email
- You plan to run sales funnels
Pick ActiveCampaign if:
- You need highly customized automations
- You have complex sequences and segmentation
Pick MailerLite if:
- You’re on a tight budget
- You want basics covered without complexity
Pick Mailchimp if:
- You also sell products or ecommerce
Pick Beehiiv if:
- Your course is newsletter-focused
If you’re unsure whether ConvertKit fits your needs, my ConvertKit vs Mailchimp comparison breaks down key differences between creator-focused and traditional email tools.
Final Thoughts
There’s no perfect email tool for every course creator — but there is a best one for your model.
For most creators who deliver content, nurture students, and run funnels, ConvertKit hits the sweet spot of simplicity and power.
If you want a full picture of how ConvertKit works as a creator tool, read my full ConvertKit review for creators.
Affiliate Disclosure
This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely believe provide value.