Email Marketing for Small Businesses Since 1998
AWeber is one of the oldest email marketing platforms, founded in 1998. It offers email campaigns, automation, landing pages, and web push notifications for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and creators.
Patterns extracted from real user feedback — not raw reviews.
In late 2024, AWeber increased prices 50-150% for customers on grandfathered plans. Some users saw pricing double overnight. Official reason was 'to continue providing quality service' but caused mass exodus to alternatives.
At 10,000 subscribers, AWeber costs $100/month while MailerLite costs $73 and ActiveCampaign $79 with better automation. Users find AWeber overpriced for the features offered, especially after 2024 price hikes.
AWeber changed campaigns to 'workflows' in June 2025 to match GetResponse. Users described the new experience as 'TERRIFYING' with completely different navigation and features moved. Long-time users had to relearn the platform.
Templates look dated compared to competitors. Not mobile-friendly by default. Design options feel stuck in 2015. Users report needing extensive customization to make emails look professional.
Navigation described as clunky. Finding features requires multiple clicks. After 2025 interface change, even experienced users report getting lost. Not intuitive for modern users accustomed to cleaner interfaces.
Users report problematic form formatting. Sign-up forms don't display correctly on some websites. Builder has quirks that require workarounds. Mobile form display issues.
AWeber's automation is basic compared to ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo. Clunky automation builder, lack of sophistication in workflows. Users find they can't create complex behavioral triggers or advanced segmentation.
Reporting features could use more cutting-edge alternatives for comprehensive analysis. Analytics are basic. Advanced metrics need manual export. Data-driven marketers need additional tools.
Users report buggy software, account deletions without warning, and poor or delayed customer service responses. Platform stability has decreased according to long-time users. Data loss concerns raised.
Long-time users report slower email delivery times than years ago. Deliverability around 83% but some campaigns take longer to reach inboxes. Speed issues when sending to larger lists.
E-commerce integration is lacking. Limited Shopify/WooCommerce features. No deep store integration like Klaviyo. E-commerce businesses find it insufficient for abandoned cart and purchase triggers.
Despite 24/7 support claims, some users report delayed responses and poor resolution. Support quality has decreased according to reviews. Complex issues may go unresolved for days.
24/7 customer support praised by many users
AWeber's 24/7 support is frequently praised on Trustpilot. Live chat and phone support available. Support staff often mentioned by name in positive reviews. Quick response times for simple issues.
Easy to use for email marketing beginners
Despite interface criticism, AWeber remains accessible for beginners. Basic campaigns are straightforward to create. Good for users who don't need advanced features.
Good deliverability rate around 83%
AWeber maintains solid deliverability (~83%). Emails generally reach inboxes. Established sender reputation from 25+ years in business. Good for basic email campaigns.
API and Zapier integrations available
Strong API for developers. Good Zapier integration for connecting to other tools. Over 850 integrations through various methods. Technical users can extend functionality.
SMS and web push notifications included
AWeber includes text messaging and web push notifications. Multi-channel marketing without separate tools. Not all competitors include these features at similar price points.
Long track record since 1998
One of the oldest email marketing platforms. 25+ years in business. 120,000+ customers worldwide. Proven stability as a company, even if product has aged.
Users: 1 user
Storage: Not specified
Limitations: 500 subscribers, 3,000 emails/month, AWeber branding, limited automation
Users: 1 user
Storage: Not specified
Limitations: 1 user, 3 automations, 3 landing pages, basic features only
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Not specified
Limitations: Still lacks advanced automation compared to competitors
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Not specified
Limitations: Very high price point. May not justify cost vs enterprise alternatives.
Beginners who value support
24/7 support is praised by many users. Phone and live chat available. Good for users who need help and don't require advanced features. Free plan allows testing.
Basic newsletter senders
Simple newsletter campaigns work well. Solid deliverability (~83%). If you just need to send regular newsletters without complex automation, AWeber handles basics adequately.
Long-time AWeber users
June 2025 interface overhaul changed everything. Workflows replaced campaigns. Learning curve for existing users. Consider whether switching to modern platform makes more sense than relearning AWeber.
Marketing teams
Plus plan supports unlimited users. 24/7 support is helpful. But limited advanced features and dated interface may frustrate experienced marketers.
Price-sensitive businesses
After 2024 price hikes, AWeber is no longer competitive on pricing. MailerLite, Brevo, and others offer more features for less. Recent price increases of 50-150% drove away value-conscious users.
Advanced marketers needing automation
Automation is basic and clunky. Complex if/then workflows, lead scoring, and behavioral triggers are limited. Choose ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo for sophisticated automation needs.
E-commerce businesses
E-commerce integrations are lacking. No deep Shopify/WooCommerce features. Abandoned cart and purchase triggers are basic. Klaviyo or Drip are better choices for online stores.
Businesses needing modern design
Templates look outdated and aren't mobile-friendly by default. Design flexibility is limited. Businesses wanting professional-looking emails should look elsewhere.
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Was on grandfathered pricing for years. In late 2024, AWeber increased prices 50-150% without negotiation. Monthly bill more than doubled. Had to choose between paying much more or migrating years of data.
Used AWeber for years and knew it well. June 2025 overhaul changed everything - campaigns became workflows, navigation completely different. Described as 'TERRIFYING.' Had to relearn platform from scratch.
Stayed with AWeber out of familiarity while alternatives improved. When prices increased, realized MailerLite offered more for $27 less per month. Regret not switching earlier.
Started with AWeber when automation needs were simple. Business grew and needed complex workflows. AWeber's automation too basic. Years of data made migration painful but necessary.
Used AWeber templates for campaigns. Feedback from customers that emails looked dated compared to competitors. Realized templates were stuck in 2015. Damaged brand perception before switching.
Account was deleted without warning for unclear policy violation. Lost years of subscriber data and engagement history. No opportunity to export before termination. Had to rebuild list from scratch.
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
AWeber increased prices 50-150% for grandfathered users in late 2024. No negotiation possible. Users faced paying much more or migrating. Loyalty not rewarded.
June 2025 interface change from campaigns to workflows disrupted all existing knowledge. Users described experience as 'TERRIFYING.' Complete relearning required.
AWeber automation is basic and clunky. Complex if/then logic limited. Lead scoring not available. Behavioral triggers basic. Must migrate to ActiveCampaign or Klaviyo.
E-commerce features are lacking. No deep Shopify/WooCommerce integration. Abandoned cart basic. Purchase triggers limited. Must switch to Klaviyo or Drip.
Templates look dated and not mobile-friendly by default. Extensive customization needed for professional appearance. Design tools limited compared to Mailchimp.
Users report account deletions without warning for unclear policy violations. No opportunity to correct issues. Years of data lost. Backup and export regularly.
MailerLite
Most common AWeber migration after price hikes. Gain: $73 vs $100 for 10K subscribers, cleaner interface, better templates. Trade-off: strict approval process, account suspension risks.
ActiveCampaign
Users switch for dramatically better automation. Gain: powerful workflows, CRM included, $79/mo for 10K. Trade-off: steeper learning curve.
Mailchimp
Businesses switch for modern interface and templates. Gain: better design tools, more integrations, AI features. Trade-off: also expensive, limited free plan.
GetResponse
Similar feature set with better pricing. Gain: webinars included, better automation, competitive pricing. Trade-off: some users find interface complex.
ConvertKit
Creators switch for creator-focused features. Gain: visual automation, subscriber tagging, creator tools. Trade-off: higher pricing, limited for non-creators.
Brevo
Budget users switch for pay-per-email pricing. Gain: SMS included, pay per email not contacts. Trade-off: deliverability concerns, less polished.
