Communications professionals looking for the best email marketing platforms in Canada have great options with a range of solid products that could align with your organization’s unique needs. Some, like Envoke, are made-in-Canada solutions purpose-built for communicators with uniquely Canadian benefits such as data hosted in Canada and billing in Canadian dollars. Others are high-profile category leaders who are not Canadian but offer good functionality. Whatever you choose, be sure to do a thorough audit of your needs and a full test drive of any platform you choose before deciding on the best app for your organization.

What’s inside this blog?

• Does email marketing still matter?
• Do I need an email marketing platform?
• Benefits of choosing a Canadian email marketing platform
• Email marketing in Canada: best platforms for communicators

Does email marketing still matter?

The law of familiarity means you might be tempted to underestimate the impact of a reliable channel like email. Don’t make that mistake. Email is part of our daily lives and is a vital tool for stakeholder communication. Rolling Stone magazine says email is the original killer app and the stats back this up. Statista says there are 4 billion global email users, 88% of whom check their inboxes every single day.

For communicators, email newsletters are especially effective. In an era of fake news and misinformation, branded newsletters are trusted by subscribers. Dynamic content options mean you can prepare highly personalized information your readers look forward to receiving. And unlike social media posts, email newsletters can be branded and packaged any way you like. They let you communicate directly with your stakeholders and you can own your audience. That’s power.

Do you need an email platform with data in Canada, CASL compliance, and straightforward functionality purpose-built for communication, not sales? Try Envoke for a 30-day, full-featured trial period. Click below to get started!

Do I need an email marketing platform?

Email clients like Microsoft Outlook and Gmail are excellent for one-on-one communication, but they fall short when it comes to bulk mailing and running effective email campaigns. For that, you need specialized software. These tools allow you to manage lists, build personalized, attractive emails, and send messages to large audiences. They also provide key metrics like open rates and click-through rates.

Benefits of choosing a Canadian email marketing platform

If you are a communicator or marketer working in Canada, there are a few reasons you may prefer a Canadian email marketing platform. Your company may need:

• Data in Canada
• CASL compliance
• English and French email capabilities
• Billing in Canadian dollars

We’ll discuss the top Canadian solutions below, some of which are Canadian companies offering uniquely Canadian perks. Others are not Canadian, but operate in Canada and may be sufficient for your needs.

Email Marketing in Canada: Best Platforms for Communicators

#1: Envoke is the only email marketing platform purpose-built for communications professionals

Envoke is a Canadian email marketing platform purpose-built for communications professionals who prioritize meaningful communication over marketing and sales. Tailored for industries like higher education, public service, and associations, Envoke excels at fostering engagement through targeted, professional email campaigns. Envoke is the only platform offering Mandatory Messaging, which gives organizations bound by a legal or contractual requirement the ability to email essential information to all stakeholders (including those who have unsubscribed from opt-in email).

“I have been continually impressed by Envoke. The customer service is fantastic, very responsive and helpful. The software runs quickly and is intuitive to use.”

Julia Kreger, University of British Columbia

Envoke’s intuitive interface makes it easy to manage large contact databases, segment audiences for more relevant messaging, and track campaign performance to ensure consistently impactful communication. With Envoke, organizations can confidently reach their audience, knowing that their emails are compliant, well-organized, and designed to resonate with stakeholders. Purpose-built for communication – not lead generation – Envoke allows communications professionals to focus on creating meaningful connections rather than navigating overly complex tools.

Related Reading: Should You Be Using Email Marketing Software?

Envoke stands out for its commitment to data security and Canadian privacy standards. All data is stored in Canada on Canadian servers, ensuring compliance with domestic data sovereignty requirements. By prioritizing transparency and offering a user-friendly experience, Envoke provides the functionality needed to maintain trust and build long-term relationships with stakeholders.

Envoke’s Features:

• Data Stored in Canada: All data, including backups, is securely stored on Canadian servers to meet Canadian data sovereignty requirements.
• Built-in CASL Compliance: Envoke’s compliance features automatically collect, update, and track consent changes to keep you compliant by default, ensuring your email campaigns adhere to CASL requirements.
• Mandatory Messaging: This feature caters to organizations needing to send opt-in and mandatory communications even to unsubscribed contacts, such as regulatory updates or member notices.
• Audience Segmentation: Unlimited, advanced segmentation tools and unlimited lists help you deliver exactly the right content to exactly the right people.
• User-Based Permissions: Role-based access protects data privacy and offers quality assurance across your organization.
• Straightforward, Intuitive Interface: A user-friendly design that allows professionals to manage lists, design emails, and track results without unnecessary complexity.
• Transparent Pricing in Canadian Dollars: Transparent, Canadian-dollar billing makes budgeting straightforward and predictable for domestic organizations.
• Friendly, Accessible Support: Friendly human support is available with all plans.
• 30-Day Free Trial: A full-featured trial period to test drive the platform and explore its capabilities risk-free.

Cyberimpact is a Canadian email marketing platform with tools for creating and sending email campaigns, tracking basic performance metrics such as open and click-through rates, and setting up simple marketing automation workflows.

Related Reading: Envoke vs. Cyberimpact

Built for businesses, Cyberimpact emphasizes marketing over communication though its straightforward interface makes it approachable, even for those without a marketing background. The platform offers bilingual services in English and French. While its features are relatively basic compared to larger platforms, Cyberimpact may provide a practical option for organizations that prioritize simplicity and bilingual functionality.

Features:

• CASL Compliance Tools: Cyberimpact includes tools that help businesses manage subscriber consent and maintain compliance with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
• Bilingual Interface: The platform offers full support in both English and French, including customer service, though some users find the interface a bit less intuitive in both languages.
• Drag-and-Drop Email Editor: Cyberimpact provides a simple drag-and-drop editor for creating emails.
• Email Templates: A limited selection of customizable templates is available for creating newsletters, promotions, and announcements.
• Marketing Automation: Basic automation tools are available for workflows like welcome emails and follow-ups..
• Basic Analytics: Cyberimpact offers basic analytics like open and click-through rates, which are useful for tracking email performance.
• Subscriber Management: The platform includes tools for managing and segmenting contact lists efficiently, though it may not have the advanced segmentation options that more robust platforms provide.

ContactMonkey is a Canadian email marketing platform built for internal communication, with a focus on ease of use and integration with platforms like Outlook and Gmail. While it does offer essential email campaign features such as templates, tracking, and list management, it is more limited than broader, more flexible email platforms. ContactMonkey’s focus on internal communications can be a drawback for businesses looking to engage external customers or more diverse audiences, as it doesn’t provide as many tools tailored for external marketing campaigns.

One of the platform’s strengths is its ability to track employee engagement with emails, offering detailed insights into open rates and clicks. However, its feature set can feel somewhat basic, particularly when it comes to automation or advanced segmentation. ContactMonkey’s pricing can be opaque, with costs rising depending on the size of your organization or the number of users. It may be an appealing choice for internal communication, but organizations looking for a comprehensive, multi-purpose solution will find ContactMonkey’s scope limiting.

Features:

• Internal Email Focus: Primarily built for internal communications such as employee newsletters and company updates.
• Outlook and Gmail Integration: Seamless integration with email platforms like Outlook and Gmail for easy setup and sending.
• Email Templates: A selection of basic, customizable templates for creating emails.
• Employee Engagement Tracking: Detailed insights into email opens, clicks, and overall employee engagement.
• Basic List Management: Tools for importing and organizing contact lists, but lacks advanced segmentation features.
• Limited Automation: Basic automation features but lacking in more advanced workflow capabilities compared to other platforms.
• Opaque Pricing: Pricing can become unclear and rise with the size of the organization, making it less predictable.

Campaign Monitor is an email marketing platform that provides basic tools for creating, sending, and tracking email campaigns. It features a simple drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates and design tools, though these features are relatively standard and may not meet the needs of teams looking for more advanced or unique capabilities.

The platform offers basic analytics, such as open and click-through rates, and limited automation for setting up simple workflows like welcome emails. While Campaign Monitor integrates with some third-party tools, its feature set is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses with straightforward marketing needs. However, its lack of advanced automation or segmentation options may make it less appealing for organizations with more complex communication strategies.

Features:

• Drag-and-Drop Email Editor: A straightforward tool for creating visually appealing emails without design or coding expertise.
• Customizable Email Templates: Pre-designed templates that can be tailored to fit various branding needs.
• Basic Automation: Simple workflows for tasks like welcome emails or timed follow-ups.
• Performance Analytics: Standard metrics, such as open rates and click-through rates, to measure campaign performance.
• Subscriber Management: Tools to organize and segment contact lists for targeted messaging.
• Third-Party Integrations: Compatibility with a range of external platforms, such as CRMs and ecommerce tools.
• Scalable Pricing: A tiered pricing model designed to accommodate businesses of varying sizes, though it can become costly as subscriber lists grow.

Constant Contact is an email marketing platform designed for small businesses and nonprofits. The platform provides basic tools for creating email campaigns, managing contact lists, and tracking performance metrics. Its drag-and-drop email editor and a library of templates make it relatively easy to create professional-looking emails without extensive design experience. However, the focus on simplicity can sometimes come at the cost of flexibility, as the platform lacks some advanced customization and automation features that larger organizations might require.

Related Reading: Envoke vs. Constant Contact

The platform also includes extras like event management and basic social media tools, which may appeal to small businesses that want an all-in-one marketing tool. That said, these additional features can feel scattered and less robust compared to specialized alternatives. While Constant Contact offers some support for compliance with email regulations like CASL and GDPR, its tools are less comprehensive than those found in platforms designed with compliance as a priority. For organizations that require advanced segmentation, mandatory messaging, or detailed privacy controls, Constant Contact might not fully meet their needs.

Features

• Drag-and-Drop Editor: A simple interface for designing email campaigns quickly and easily.
• Email Templates: A library of pre-designed templates for various industries and occasions.
• Contact Management: Basic tools to import, organize, and segment contact lists.
• Event Management: Options to create and promote events with RSVP tracking and reminders.
• Social Media Integration: Basic tools to schedule and share posts on social platforms.
• Performance Tracking: Standard metrics like open rates, clicks, and bounce rates to measure campaign success.
• Tiered Pricing: Plans that scale with the size of your email list, though costs can rise significantly as your audience grows.

Mailchimp is a popular email marketing platform that caters to small and medium-sized businesses, offering a range of tools for email campaign creation, audience management, and performance tracking. Its free tier provides basic features like email templates, list management, and simple automation. However, as businesses scale, the platform’s free plan can quickly become limiting, with certain features, such as advanced segmentation and reporting only available in higher-priced tiers. While Mailchimp is user-friendly and accessible, it may lack some of the advanced compliance and data privacy features required by organizations in regulated industries.

Related Reading: Canadian Mailchimp Alternative

Mailchimp offers integrations with various third-party platforms, though some users find its automation workflows to be less intuitive and difficult to set up. The platform’s focus on a broad user base, rather than specifically on email communications, means it may not be the best fit for organizations that need highly targeted or compliant messaging, such as those in higher education or nonprofit sectors. The pricing structure can also become expensive as your email list grows, and the platform’s overall flexibility can feel limited compared to more specialized tools like Envoke.

Features:

• Free Tier: A basic plan with essential features for users with small contact lists.
• Email Templates: A variety of pre-designed templates for easy email creation.
• Simple Automation: Basic automated workflows, such as welcome emails or abandoned cart reminders.
• Audience Management: Tools for importing, organizing, and segmenting contact lists, though advanced segmentation is only available on higher plans.
• Performance Analytics: Basic reporting tools to track open rates, clicks, and engagement.
• Integrations: Connections with a wide range of third-party platforms, although some may require a paid plan.
• Pricing Tiers: Pricing increases as your list size and feature needs grow, making it less cost-effective for larger organizations.

Conclusion:

If you work in email marketing in Canada, it’s important to find a platform that meets your organization’s unique needs. A platform built for communicators, like Envoke, helps you manage consent, stay compliant with privacy laws, and allow for both opt-in and mandatory messaging. Choose a tool that makes it easy to segment your audience and track the performance of your campaigns, without being bogged down by unnecessary complexity. Your platform should simplify these tasks, so you can focus on the bigger picture — connecting with your stakeholders effectively and efficiently.

Envoke provides:

• Focus on Communication, Not Sales: Envoke is built specifically for communications professionals, providing the tools to engage audiences with relevant, compliant, and meaningful content.
• Strong Privacy and Compliance Features: Envoke comes with built-in tools that help you manage consent and stay compliant with Canadian privacy laws like CASL and GDPR. This ensures a level of compliance that many other platforms, such as Mailchimp or Constant Contact, may not offer.
• Support for Mandatory Messaging: Envoke is perfect for Canadian organizations that must send both opt-in and mandatory communications — such as legal updates or membership notices — which other platforms cannot do.
• Streamlined, User-Friendly Interface: Envoke’s intuitive, easy-to-use design allows communications professionals to create, segment, and track campaigns quickly, without the complexity that can sometimes come with other tools like Mailchimp or ContactMonkey. You’ll have more time to focus on your messaging and building relationships.

Related Reading:

• Envoke is a Mailchimp alternative with data in Canada
• Envoke vs. Cyberimpact: 9 differences that matter
• Data in Canada: Keep your data compliant with Envoke
• Should you be using email marketing software?