Mailwizz: Cheaper, Self-Hosted Email Marketing Software Alternative

Email marketing platforms such as Mailchimp, ConvertKit, GetResponse (and the rest), seem to be getting more and more expensive. As a Mailchimp user, I cringe every time the monthly payment goes through. If you have large email lists built from your facebook lead generation campaigns, and access to technical skills, Mailwizz could be a much cheaper alternative to subscription platforms. 

What is Mailwizz?

Mailwizz is a self-hosted email marketing application that allows businesses and marketers to manage their email campaigns and lists directly from their server. Unlike cloud-based platforms like Mailchimp or SendGrid, Mailwizz provides complete control over data and email sending infrastructure, making it a potent tool in the hands of those who value data sovereignty and customization.

Features of Mailwizz

1. Self-Hosting Capability: With Mailwizz, you can install the software on your server, granting full control over the email marketing environment. This makes it a self-hosted email marketing software package that you can use to send unlimited email newsletters or autoresponders from. 
2. Comprehensive List Management: The platform offers advanced tools for managing subscriber lists, including segmentation, custom fields, and bulk actions.
3. Robust Campaign Management: Users can create, schedule, and monitor email campaigns, complete with detailed analytics to track performance.
4. Responsive Template Design: A built-in template engine allows for crafting responsive email designs that adapt to different devices.
5. Autoresponders and Automation: Supports automated email sequences, essential for efficient marketing automation.
6. API for Integration: Mailwizz comes with a full-featured API for seamless integration with other systems and workflows, so if you need to integrate email with your own App, this could be a good option.

Advantages of Using Mailwizz

1. Complete Data Control

One of the main drawcards of Mailwizz is the unparalleled control it offers over data. This is especially relevant in an era where data privacy and security are paramount.

2. Cost Efficiency

For large volume senders, Mailwizz can be a more economical choice compared to subscription-based services. The one-time payment for the software, coupled with scalable server costs, can result in significant savings. As of the writing of this post, your can purchase a one time licence for $65. Depending on the size of your list, that could be significantly less than what you’re paying for your monthly subscription to you existing email marketing provider. 

3. Extensive Customization

Given its self-hosted nature, Mailwizz can be tailored more extensively than most SaaS email platforms in both functionality and user interface, a boon for businesses with specific requirements.

4. Flexible Integration

The comprehensive API of Mailwizz facilitates integration with a wide array of systems, offering versatility in customizing solutions for different clients.

5. No Subscriber or Email Limits

In contrast to many cloud-based services, Mailwizz doesn’t impose limits on the number of subscribers or emails, other than what your hosting environment can support.

Compared to some other Email Marketing Platforms…

1. Mailchimp: Popular for its ease of use, Mailchimp can become costly for growing lists. Mailwizz, with its one-off fee, might offer better value for large-scale lists built via lead gen campaigns.
2. SendGrid: Focused on transactional emails and deliverability, SendGrid offers different strengths compared to Mailwizz, which provides broader control over marketing aspects.
3. Constant Contact: Renowned for support and user-friendliness, Constant Contact might be preferable for those valuing these over the customization and control that Mailwizz offers.

Hosting Options for Mailwizz

The choice of hosting is critical for Mailwizz as it directly impacts performance, deliverability, and scalability. Mailwizz offer a hosted solution, but if here are some other alternatives if you wish to roll-your-own:

Shared Hosting

• Economical but shares resources with other websites.
• Pros: Cost-effective, easy to manage.
• Cons: Limited resources, potential for slower performance, less control over server settings.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

• Offers dedicated virtual resources on a shared server.
• Pros: More control over the environment, better performance than shared hosting, scalable to an extent.
• Cons: Requires more technical knowledge for management, higher cost than shared hosting.

Dedicated Server Hosting

• Provides a server solely dedicated to your use.
• Pros: Maximum control and customization, high performance, ideal for large-scale operations.
• Cons: Significantly higher cost, requires advanced technical knowledge for management.

Cloud Hosting

• Offers hosting on virtual servers which pull their computing resource from extensive underlying networks of physical web servers.
• Pros: Highly scalable, reliable, and offers a balance between performance and cost.
• Cons: Can be more complex to set up, costs can escalate depending on usage.

Managed Hosting

• Includes services where the hosting provider handles the setup, administration, management, and support of the server or platform.
• Pros: Less technical expertise required, provider handles maintenance and security.
• Cons: More expensive than unmanaged options, less control over the server environment.

Considerations Before Choosing Mailwizz

1. Technical Skill Requirement: Mailwizz demands a certain level of technical know-how, including server management and maintenance.
2. Email Deliverability: Managing deliverability is a nuanced task, requiring an understanding of email protocols, spam regulations, and server reputation.
3. Ongoing Support and Updates: Unlike SaaS platforms, support for Mailwizz relies on the developer and community, which might not be as immediate or comprehensive.
4. Scalability Considerations: While Mailwizz is scalable, scaling up can require significant effort and investment compared to cloud-based services that automate scaling.

Why Choose Mailwizz Over Others?

Mailwizz shines in scenarios where control over data, cost-effectiveness, and customization are key priorities. Its self-hosted nature offers benefits that cloud-based solutions can’t match, particularly for businesses with specific needs or those operating at a large scale. However, it’s crucial to assess whether the technical requirements and responsibilities of a self-hosted solution align with the capabilities and goals of your client.

Data Privacy and Security

With rising concerns over data privacy and security, Mailwizz’s self-hosted model offers an advantage for businesses wary of third-party data handling. This control over data is increasingly important in a world where data breaches and privacy issues are common.

Long-Term Cost Benefits

For businesses with a large subscriber base, Mailwizz’s pricing model can offer significant long-term cost benefits. The initial investment in setting up and hosting Mailwizz can be offset by the absence of recurring subscription fees, which can escalate quickly with other platforms as the subscriber list grows.

Unparalleled Customization

The ability to tailor Mailwizz to specific needs is a significant advantage. This extends not just to the user interface and functionality but also to the integration capabilities with other systems, a crucial factor in creating a cohesive digital marketing strategy.

Independent Operation

Operating independently of third-party email service providers offers a level of security and operational stability that can be crucial for certain businesses. This independence also means businesses are not subject to the changing policies, pricing, and feature sets of third-party providers.

Conclusion

Mailwizz represents a powerful choice in the realm of email marketing tools, especially for businesses that prioritize full control, customization, and cost-effectiveness. Its self-hosted nature, while demanding in terms of technical expertise and management, offers unparalleled benefits in terms of data control, customization, and long-term cost savings.

Choosing the right email marketing platform is a nuanced decision that depends on a variety of factors including business size, technical expertise, budget, and specific marketing goals. Mailwizz, with its unique set of features and hosting options, stands out as a viable alternative to mainstream cloud-based solutions, especially for those who value control and customization.