GetResponse Review for SMBs

email tool · $15–$99+/mo scaled by list size and webinar features

GetResponse is a mid-market email marketing platform that bundles newsletters, automation sequences, and basic landing pages into one account. It's been around since 2002 and is positioned as a simpler alternative to enterprise tools like HubSpot. The core question isn't whether it works—it does—but whether its specific feature mix aligns with what your business actually needs to send.

What it does

GetResponse lets you build email lists, segment subscribers, create automated sequences (triggered by user behavior), and run broadcast campaigns. It includes a drag-and-drop landing page builder and a basic webinar hosting feature, which is unusual for an email-first tool. You can set up simple workflows: someone downloads a resource, lands in a segment, receives a 5-email series, then gets routed to a sales email if they don't click. The automation works reliably but is visual-block-based rather than programmatic, so complex logic trees require manual routing.

Who it's for

✓ Ideal user

Service providers or small product businesses (under 50 employees) with a customer list under 10,000 contacts who want email and landing pages in one system and don't need deep CRM or sales pipeline features.

✗ Not for

Sales-driven teams that need lead scoring and pipeline integration, or companies with highly segmented audiences requiring sophisticated conditional logic in workflows.

Typical team size

1–8 people; typically one person owns email and manages it part-time alongside other marketing duties.

Typical industries

Coaching and consultingE-learning and online coursesFreelance services and agenciesSmall e-commerce (under 50 SKUs)SaaS with under 5,000 customers

Pros

✓ Landing page builder is genuinely useful for lead magnets and product launches without leaving the platform—you avoid paying for a separate landing page tool and can A/B test directly against email sends.

✓ Webinar hosting is included, which normally costs $50–150/month on other platforms; useful for low-volume educational webinars (under 500 attendees) and works cleanly with your email list.

✓ List import and cleaning tools are straightforward; you can upload a CSV, filter duplicates, and segment in 10 minutes without needing a developer.

✓ Automation templates for common flows (welcome series, re-engagement, cart abandonment basics) come pre-built, cutting setup time from days to hours for typical campaigns.

Cons

✗ Automation gets clunky fast—if you need more than 3–4 conditional branches, you're dragging and dropping blocks instead of writing logic; this slows down large-scale marketing operations.

✗ Pricing scales aggressively by list size; a 50,000-contact list costs roughly $165/month before webinar add-ons, putting you near HubSpot territory without HubSpot's CRM depth.

✗ Reporting is basic; you see opens, clicks, and unsubscribes, but not revenue attribution, customer lifetime value, or ROI by campaign—you'll need to connect it to Google Analytics or your own spreadsheets to make sense of performance.

Pricing breakdown

$15/month (up to 1,000 contacts)

GetResponse charges per contact tier on a monthly subscription, starting at $15/month for up to 1,000 contacts. Each tier jump costs more; at 10,000 contacts you're paying $50–60/month, and at 50,000+ you hit $165+/month. Webinar hosting, SMS, and advanced automation add to the base cost.

Where it gets expensive

Webinar hosting (add $35–99/month depending on attendee limits) and SMS credits push costs up quickly; a full-featured account with 25,000 contacts and webinars can run $150–180/month.

Free tier

See how this stacks up →

Alternatives worth considering

Brevo
email
Email plus SMS tooling for newsletters, transactional mail, and small automation flows.
Brevo is cheaper at scale (flat pricing at higher contact counts) and includes SMS and landing pages; better if you're cost-sensitive and willing to accept slightly less polished automation UI.
ActiveCampaign
email
Email automation platform with tagging, sequences, and CRM hooks for follow-up.
ActiveCampaign has deeper automation logic (true conditional branching) and CRM features; pick it if your sales team needs lead scoring and pipeline tracking alongside email.
HubSpot
crm
Customer relationship software that centralizes contacts, deals, and basic marketing so SMBs can follow up without spreadsheets.
HubSpot's free tier covers email, landing pages, and basic CRM; upgrade only if you need advanced automation or sales features, making it lower-cost to start despite higher paid tiers.

Verdict

GetResponse works well for solopreneurs and small teams running educational campaigns, nurture sequences, and promotional blasts without a dedicated marketing ops person. It's an honest middle ground: cheaper than enterprise platforms but pricier than stripped-down alternatives like Brevo. The webinar and landing page bundling are real differentiators, but the automation ceiling is real—if you outgrow simple sequences, you'll hit friction within 6–12 months.

Worth it when

You're sending 3+ campaigns per month, need basic landing pages, and run occasional webinars (under 500 people); the all-in-one pricing beats paying separate vendors for each tool.

Skip when

Your team is already using HubSpot for CRM, you need advanced automation logic (more than 4–5 conditional paths), or your contact list is over 100,000 (Brevo becomes significantly cheaper).

FAQ

Can I use GetResponse for transactional emails (receipts, password resets)?▼

Technically yes, but it's not designed for it—you need a separate transactional email service like SendGrid for reliability and deliverability. GetResponse's strength is marketing emails, not operational ones.

Does GetResponse integrate with my CRM or e-commerce platform?▼

Yes, it connects via Zapier to hundreds of tools, and has native integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, and a handful of others. Integration quality varies; test it with your specific platform before committing.

How long does it take to set up and send my first email?▼

From signup to first campaign: 30–45 minutes if you have a clean list and simple template. Pre-built templates are included, so you're not starting from scratch.

What happens to my data if I leave?▼

You can export your contact list and campaign history as CSV or through their API before canceling. There are no lock-in contracts, but exporting automation sequences requires manual recreation elsewhere.

See a full best-for guide →