If you’re running a small fiber arts business and haven’t started your email newsletter yet, don’t stress—we know sooo many people in the same position!
We love and encourage email newsletters because they're like the VIP lounge for your most loyal fans. It’s the place where you can share updates, highlight new products, and build connections that turn casual admirers into repeat customers.
Email newsletters are known to be much more effective in driving sales than any social media platform, so there aren't many reasons to continue to avoid starting your own.
To help you dive in, we’ve compared some of the most popular email newsletter platforms so you can choose the one that’s right for you—with copious amounts of bullet points for easy skimming (this is also why I used emojis to separate the headers).
Key Features to Compare 🗝️
Here are the essentials we’ll cover for each platform:
Free Plan vs. Free Trial: Can you get started for free, or is there a time limit?
Subscriber Limits: How many email addresses can you manage before upgrading?
Templates & Customization: Are the templates pretty? (Because, yes, that matters!)
Ease of Use: How simple is it to set up and send your first email?
Best For: Who’s the ideal user for each platform?
The Contenders 🥊
Let’s dive into the platforms, ranked by features that matter most for small creative businesses.
Free Plan: Yes! Up to 1,000 subscribers and 12,000 monthly emails.
Templates & Customization: Beautiful and modern templates with drag-and-drop editing.
Ease of Use: Clean and beginner-friendly interface, great for luddites/non-techy users.
Standout Feature: Offers advanced automation tools, even on the free plan.
Best For: Creatives on a budget who want robust features without overwhelm.
What are the downsides?
Automation and advanced features can feel overwhelming for first-timers.
Limited template variety compared to more design-heavy platforms like Flodesk.
Customer support is slower on the free plan.
Free Plan: Yes, but limited to 500 subscribers and 1,000 monthly sends.
Templates & Customization: Decent templates, but customization is less intuitive.
Ease of Use: Familiar name but can feel clunky for beginners.
Standout Feature: Extensive integrations with e-commerce platforms like Shopify.
Best For: Business owners with slightly larger budgets or advanced needs.
What are the downsides?
Pricing jumps significantly once you outgrow the free plan.
The interface isn’t as beginner-friendly as it used to be.
Reports of slow customer support and outdated templates.
Flodesk (this is the one we use)
Free Plan: No free plan, but a flat-rate price of $35/month with unlimited subscribers.
Templates & Customization: Pretty templates compatible with visually-driven brands.
Ease of Use: Super simple and aesthetically pleasing interface.
Standout Feature: Unlimited subscribers at one price. No surprise costs as you grow.
Best For: Fiber artists who want nice-looking emails without needing a lot of tech skills.
What are the downsides?
No free plan or trial—commitment starts immediately.
Lacks advanced analytics and reporting tools (this can be very annoying).
Limited automation options compared to ConvertKit or Klaviyo.
Free Plan: No free plan; pricing starts at $0.10 per email (first 10,000 emails free).
Templates & Customization: Basic, but easy to integrate with your Shopify store.
Ease of Use: Seamless if you already use Shopify for e-commerce.
Standout Feature: Automatically syncs your product catalog.
Best For: Shopify store owners looking for simplicity and integration.
What are the downsides?
Exclusively for Shopify users—no option to use it if you’re on a different platform.
Very basic email features; not ideal for long-term growth.
Limited automation and segmentation tools.
Free Plan: Limited to three campaigns/month and 5,000 emails total.
Templates & Customization: Solid templates that match Wix website themes.
Ease of Use: Easy if you’re already on Wix, but less robust for growing businesses.
Standout Feature: Integration with Wix websites.
Best For: Wix users who want verrry basic email marketing functionality.
What are the downsides?
Limited free plan—most users will outgrow it quickly.
Automation is very basic and not scalable.
Not designed for businesses planning to expand beyond simple newsletters.
Free Plan: Yes, but limited to 1,000 subscribers and basic features.
Templates & Customization: Minimal templates—better suited for text-heavy emails.
Ease of Use: Built for creators but requires a slight learning curve.
Standout Feature: Powerful automation and tagging features.
Best For: Business owners who want to grow their audience with strategic tools.
What are the downsides?
Template design options are minimal—if visuals are a priority (we won't judge you), this may not be your top pick.
Paid plans get pricey as your subscriber count grows.
Automation setup can be intimidating for absolute beginners.
Free Plan: Yes, for up to 500 contacts and 5,000 emails/month.
Templates & Customization: High-quality templates with advanced customization options.
Ease of Use: Advanced features can feel overwhelming for beginners.
Standout Feature: Exceptional for segmentation and e-commerce integration.
Best For: Established businesses with a higher budget ready to scale with advanced analytics.
What are the downsides?
Designed for larger businesses—may feel like overkill for a small fiber arts business.
Higher learning curve, especially for non-techy users.
Free plan’s limits are restrictive, pushing you toward a paid plan quickly.
Which Platform Is Right for You? ⚖️
Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
Starting for Free? Our favorite choice is going to be Mailerlite, every time.
Focused on Visuals? Flodesk is your aesthetic soulmate, even if the analytics aren't great.
Already Using Shopify or Wix? You can choose to stick with their built-in tools for simplicity.
Ready to Scale? Klaviyo is a top choice that offers loads of features for growth.
Final Thoughts 🧠
Starting an email newsletter might feel like just another “to-do,” (and who really needs another one of those??) but think of it as building a direct line to your dream customers. No social media algorithm can stand between you and their inbox - hooray!
Take a deep breath, pick the platform that feels right, and get started. Making an initial choice doesn't mean you can't change your mind later! For now, your customers (and future sales!) are waiting.
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