Somewhere between “I should build an email list” and actually having one, most people get stuck picking software. There are dozens of options, they all claim to be the easiest, and none of the comparison pages agree with each other. We went through this ourselves, and GetResponse is the one we ended up recommending — so here’s the honest version of why.
Quick disclosure: we’re an affiliate for GetResponse, which means we may earn a commission if you sign up through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we’d genuinely suggest to a friend, and this review is written the same way we’d write it if that link didn’t exist.
Why bother with email software at all?
If you’re relying on social media followers or search traffic alone, you’re building on land you don’t own — a platform can change its algorithm overnight and your reach disappears with it. An email list is the one audience you actually control. It’s also, quietly, one of the highest-converting tools in online income of any kind, whether that’s driving affiliate sales, promoting your own product, or just keeping people coming back to a blog or shop.
What GetResponse actually gives you
GetResponse has a genuinely usable free plan — up to 500 contacts and 2,500 emails a month, with a drag-and-drop email builder and one landing page included. No credit card required, and it doesn’t expire. That alone makes it a sensible place to start: you can build your first list without spending anything until it’s actually working.
New accounts also get a 30-day trial of the premium features, so you can test automation, landing pages, and the rest before deciding whether to pay for them.