GetResponse and iContact are two of the longest-running email marketing platforms, both founded around 2003 and both aimed at small businesses. They have gone in different directions since: GetResponse grew into an all-in-one marketing platform with automation, landing pages, webinars, and a website builder, while iContact stayed a simpler email tool with low per-user pricing. This comparison, updated October 2026, covers price, ease of use, templates, automation, and support so you can pick the right one for a blog or small business.
GetResponse vs iContact at a Glance
| GetResponse | iContact | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $19/month (1,000 contacts) | $9/user/month (500 contacts) |
| Free option | 30-day free trial | Free plan up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/month |
| Automation | Visual workflows, lead scoring, abandoned cart (Marketer plan and up) | Basic automations and autoresponders |
| Landing pages | Yes, all plans | Yes, templates |
| Webinars | Built in (Creator plan) | No |
| Website builder | Yes (Creator plan) | No |
| AI tools | Email, subject line, and website generators on all plans | AI content assistant on Premium and above |
| Ecommerce | Shopify, WooCommerce, product recommendations | Limited |
| Support | 24/7 chat, email; phone on higher plans | Phone and chat weekdays, email weekends |
| Best for | Bloggers and businesses that want automation and growth tools | Simple newsletters on a small list |
Overview
GetResponse serves more than 350,000 customers and has become a full marketing platform: email, marketing automation, landing pages, signup forms and popups, webinars, a website builder, SMS, and ecommerce integrations, with AI generators built into most of it. It is the tool I used for years on this blog; see our full GetResponse review.
iContact, now owned by Ziff Davis, focuses on straightforward email campaigns for small businesses and nonprofits. It has a drag and drop editor, templates, basic automation, landing pages, and a free plan for very small lists. It does not try to be an all-in-one platform.
Pricing
GetResponse in 2026: Starter $19 a month, Marketer $59, Creator $69, and Enterprise on quote, all for 1,000 contacts and rising with list size; annual billing saves about 18 percent. Starter includes email, one automation workflow, landing pages, and AI tools. Marketer unlocks unlimited automation and ecommerce; Creator adds webinars and the website builder. There is a 30-day free trial and no permanent free plan.
iContact: a free plan for up to 250 contacts and 500 emails a month, then Standard from $9 per user per month (up to 500 contacts), Premium from $16, and Ultimate from $24, with larger lists quoted individually. Annual plans are about 15 percent cheaper but carry a one-year minimum, and plans auto-renew.
Verdict: iContact is cheaper for a tiny list and the only one with a free plan. From about 1,000 contacts upward the two cost similar amounts, and GetResponse includes far more for the money.
Ease of Use
GetResponse’s interface was redesigned around a single dashboard with guided quick actions (create a newsletter, build a workflow, add a form). There is more to learn because there is more in it, but the editor and workflow builder are among the easiest in the category.
iContact’s interface is simple and has improved since the clunky version in our original screenshots, but users still report contact management (especially deleting and segmenting contacts) as awkward. For sending a monthly newsletter it is fine.
Email Templates and Editor
GetResponse has around 200 responsive templates plus an AI email generator that writes and designs a campaign from a prompt, and a block editor with saved sections. iContact has a similar drag and drop editor and a template library, with AI templates and images on the Ultimate plan. Neither is a deal breaker; both produce good-looking emails quickly.
Automation and Autoresponders
This is the biggest gap. GetResponse’s visual workflow builder handles conditions, tags, lead scoring, abandoned carts, and multi-branch sequences on the Marketer plan and above, plus classic time-based autoresponders on every plan. iContact offers autoresponders and basic trigger-based automations (welcome series, birthday emails, simple drip sequences) but nothing close to a full automation builder.
Support
GetResponse offers 24/7 live chat and email in several languages, with phone support on Enterprise. iContact offers phone and chat on weekdays (roughly 4 am to 10 pm Eastern) and email on weekends. Both have help centers and webinars.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose GetResponse if you want automation, landing pages, ecommerce emails, or webinars, or if you expect your list to grow past a few thousand. It is the more capable platform at a similar price, and the one we recommend for bloggers.
Choose iContact if you have a small list, send simple newsletters, and want the lowest entry price or a free plan. It does the basics well without extra complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GetResponse have a free plan?
Not anymore. It offers a 30-day free trial of any plan; iContact has a permanent free plan for up to 250 contacts.
Which has better deliverability?
Both are established senders with good reputations. GetResponse publishes a 99 percent deliverability claim and scores well in independent tests; iContact also performs well for compliant lists.
Can I migrate from iContact to GetResponse?
Yes. Export your contacts as a CSV from iContact and import them into GetResponse, which also offers free migration help on higher plans.
What are the alternatives?
MailerLite for a cheap, simple tool with a free plan; Kit for creators; ActiveCampaign for the deepest automation; Brevo for combined email and SMS.
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