Email Marketing · head to head
EmailOctopus vs Zoho Campaigns
Zoho Campaigns
Email Marketing
Email marketing tool with a genuine free tier, priced by contact count once paid
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: EmailOctopus free tier limited to 2,500 subscribers; Zoho Campaigns template design quality and out-of-the-box deliverability reputation tools are less polished than specialist platforms such as Klaviyo or Campaign Monitor.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which EmailOctopus and Zoho Campaigns actually diverge.
| Attribute | EmailOctopus | Zoho Campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Per month by contact tier once on a paid plan |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Email Marketing).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in EmailOctopus
Nothing recorded that Zoho Campaigns does not also cover.
Only in Zoho Campaigns
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- Zoho CRM integration
- A/B testing
- Advanced segmentation
- Send time optimisation
- WhatsApp and SMS add-ons
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
EmailOctopus
- Building email lists with unlimited landing pagesnot Zoho Campaigns
- Team collaboration on email campaignsnot Zoho Campaigns
- Automated subscriber onboarding flowsnot Zoho Campaigns
- Multi-user email campaign managementnot Zoho Campaigns
Zoho Campaigns
- A small business with under 2,000 contacts wanting a genuinely usable free email marketing tool rather than a crippled trialnot EmailOctopus
- An existing Zoho CRM or Desk customer wanting email marketing that syncs natively without a third-party connectornot EmailOctopus
- A growing list needing to scale from 500 up to 500,000 contacts within one vendor's pricing laddernot EmailOctopus
- A team wanting WhatsApp or SMS as an add-on channel alongside email from the same vendornot EmailOctopus
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
EmailOctopus
- Free tier limited to 2,500 subscribers
- Free tier requires EmailOctopus branding on emails
- Free tier reports only retained 30 days
Zoho Campaigns
- Template design quality and out-of-the-box deliverability reputation tools are less polished than specialist platforms such as Klaviyo or Campaign Monitor.
- Advanced segmentation and dynamic content are reserved for the Professional tier, so mid-sized lists needing that capability face a real price step up from Standard.
- WhatsApp and SMS are separate paid add-ons rather than included channels, so a genuinely multi-channel campaign costs more than the base email price suggests.
- Its main structural advantage, native Zoho ecosystem integration, does not benefit a buyer using a non-Zoho CRM or helpdesk, who gets no more from Zoho Campaigns than from a specialist alternative.
- Support responsiveness reflects Zoho's broad, lower-touch model across its whole portfolio rather than dedicated email marketing expertise.
Pricing, plan by plan
EmailOctopus
Free- StarterFree
- Up to 2,500 subscribers
- 10,000 monthly emails
- 1 user account
- Pro$9/month
- Unlimited subscribers
- 10,000 monthly emails
- Unlimited user accounts
Zoho Campaigns
Free- Forever FreeFree
- Up to 2,000 contacts
- 6,000 emails per month
- 5 users, basic templates and reporting
- Standard$undefined/month
- Starts at 500 contacts, scales to 100,000
- Unlimited email sends
- A/B testing and priority support
- Professional$undefined/month
- Starts at 500 contacts, scales to 500,000
- Unlimited email sends
- Advanced segmentation, dynamic content, custom roles and webhooks
Which should you pick?
Choose Zoho Campaigns if
- You need drag-and-drop email builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want zoho crm integration.
Questions people ask
- Is EmailOctopus or Zoho Campaigns better?
- Neither clearly leads. EmailOctopus starts at Free and Zoho Campaigns at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, EmailOctopus or Zoho Campaigns?
- EmailOctopus starts at Free and Zoho Campaigns at Free.
- Does EmailOctopus or Zoho Campaigns run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use EmailOctopus for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is EmailOctopus best used for?
- EmailOctopus is most often used for building email lists with unlimited landing pages, team collaboration on email campaigns, automated subscriber onboarding flows, multi-user email campaign management. Of those, building email lists with unlimited landing pages and team collaboration on email campaigns are not what Zoho Campaigns is typically brought in for.
- What can EmailOctopus do that Zoho Campaigns cannot?
- Zoho Campaigns covers Drag-and-drop email builder, Zoho CRM integration, A/B testing, Advanced segmentation.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
EmailOctopus: Is there a free version of EmailOctopus?
Yes, EmailOctopus offers a free plan supporting up to 2,500 subscribers with 10,000 monthly emails. The free tier includes EmailOctopus branding on emails and reports are retained for only 30 days. The Pro plan starts at $9/month for unlimited subscribers.
SourceZoho Campaigns: Is the free tier good enough for real use, or just a trial?
It is a real, ongoing free tier for up to 2,000 contacts and 6,000 emails a month, not a time-limited trial.
EmailOctopus: What discount does EmailOctopus offer for annual billing?
EmailOctopus offers 10% savings when you pay annually versus monthly. Nonprofits receive an additional 20% lifetime discount on all plans.
SourceZoho Campaigns: Does it integrate with non-Zoho CRMs?
Yes via Zapier and other connectors, but the native, no-extra-fee integration advantage is specific to other Zoho products.
EmailOctopus: Are there any long-term contracts required?
No, EmailOctopus has no long-term contracts. You can cancel your plan anytime and switch between monthly and yearly billing options.
SourceZoho Campaigns: Are WhatsApp and SMS included?
No, they are separately purchased add-ons alongside the email plan.
EmailOctopus: How many users can access one EmailOctopus account?
The free Starter plan includes 1 user. The Pro plan includes unlimited user accounts at no additional cost.
SourceRelated pages
More on EmailOctopus
More on Zoho Campaigns
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