iContact vs Moosend

This battle pits features vs. trust in the budget email marketing segment. iContact uses AI tools to hook creators, but Moosend promises unlimited sends and great support. The biggest difference is user sentiment and long-term reliability.

iContact
iContact

Affordable Plans, Risky Service.

Ciroapp review
1.8
#17 in Email marketing

We note that iContact provides essential email marketing tools, including strong AI assistance and affordable starting plans at just $9 per month. However, we found the external reviews concerning, highlighting significant issues related to platform reliability, security vulnerabilities, and extremely poor customer service regarding billing and cancellations. Overall, we cannot recommend iContact until these fundamental support and security issues are resolutely corrected.

Pros

  • Affordable pricing starting at $9 per month.
  • Includes an AI-Powered Content Assistant to overcome writer's block.
  • Simple drag-and-drop email builder with hundreds of templates.
  • Offers a generous 30-day full-access free trial period.

Cons

  • Customers report predatory billing and refusal to issue refunds.
  • Significant support issues; representatives are often evasive and unprofessional.
  • Platform downtime, including outages during holiday weekends.
  • Reported security breach risks, despite claims of being user-friendly.
Pricing
$9/mo
Free trial30 days
Money-back
Best for
Solo entrepreneurs focused on content generation who need immediate AI drafting assistance, Small businesses prioritizing template variety over complex workflow automation, Users needing deep integration with niche or specialized secondary applications
Moosend
Moosend

Affordable marketing powered by superb support.

Ciroapp review
3.7
#9 in Email marketing

We found Moosend excels in delivering powerful email marketing tools at a highly affordable price point, backed by exceptionally responsive live chat support. Overall, while the platform offers significant value for money and ease of use, we urge caution due to reported severe technical bugs affecting critical data reliability.

Pros

  • Highly competitive and budget-friendly pricing structure.
  • Exceptional and prompt 24/5 customer support via live chat.
  • Intuitive interface supports easy campaign creation and setup.
  • Effective e-commerce automation features with ready-to-use recipes.

Cons

  • Reports of severe technical bugs, including unexpected data deletion.
  • Inconsistent follow-up during the initial pricing and sales process.
  • Trial periods sometimes end prematurely without explanation.
Pricing
$9/mo
Free trial30 days
Money-back
Best for
Small businesses requiring guaranteed 24/5 live chat support for peace of mind, Marketers sending high volumes who need unlimited email sends on core plans, Growing e-commerce businesses leveraging dedicated automation workflows (Moosend+)
Quick verdict
Choose iContact if you prioritize budget pricing ($9/month) and want an integrated AI-Powered Content Assistant for drafting emails
Choose Moosend if you require reliable 24/5 live chat support and unlimited email sending on all contact-based paid plans

AboutiContact

iContact is an easy and affordable email marketing platform specifically designed for small businesses and growing enterprises. This powerful tool helps you revolutionize your marketing strategy without breaking the bank. With plans starting as low as $9 per month, it provides flexible pricing to fit any budget, ensuring there are no hidden fees. Since 2003, iContact has empowered thousands of businesses by helping them send billions of emails efficiently. ✅ You can start creating stunning marketing emails immediately with a free 30-day trial that gives you full access to the platform.

AboutMoosend

Moosend provides truly affordable email marketing solutions designed for businesses of various sizes. They make a commitment to strong customer assistance, whether you have 500 contacts or 1,000,000. The pricing model emphasizes flexibility, so you choose what fits your budget best. 💡

Highlights

Quick winners by category at a glance.
Ease of Use
Both iContact and Moosend feature strong drag-and-drop builders and intuitive interfaces. Both are geared towards beginners.
Tie
Feature Set
Moosend outpaces iContact with multi-step automation (Moosend+) and high-end security and management features (Enterprise).
Value for Money
Moosend is slightly cheaper annually and includes essential unlimited email sends. iContact's feature accessibility is reasonable but less clear.
Customer Support
Moosend offers guaranteed 24/5 live chat support praised by users. iContact support is historically problematic, especially regarding refunds.
Integration Options
iContact promises integration with thousands of external apps via third-party providers. Moosend offers 80+ native integrations.
Scalability
Moosend has clear growth paths to Moosend+ and Enterprise plans with advanced features. iContact's high-end solutions are vague.

Feature Comparison

Compare key features side by side
Starting Price (500 contacts)
iContact:$9/month
Moosend:$7/month (Annual)
iContact
Free Trial Duration
iContact:30 days (Full Access)
Moosend:30 days (Core Access)
Tie
Credit Card Required for Trial
iContact:Not specified
Moosend:No
Tie
Pricing Model
iContact:Usage-based (Contacts)
Moosend:Usage-based (Contacts)
Tie
Email Send Limits
iContact:Not explicitly stated
Moosend:Unlimited Sents
Moosend
AI Content Assistant
iContact:Yes (Standard feature)
Moosend:Yes (Moosend+ plan)
Tie
Customer Support Channels
iContact:Chat, Phone, Email
Moosend:24/5 Live Chat, Email
Tie
Dedicated IP Add-on
iContact:No
Moosend:Yes (Enterprise)
Moosend
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
iContact:No
Moosend:Yes (Enterprise)
Moosend
Multi-step Automation Workflows
iContact:No
Moosend:Yes (Moosend+)
Moosend
Custom Reports/Dashboards
iContact:No
Moosend:Yes (Moosend+)
Moosend
Landing Pages Builder (Entry Plan)
iContact:Not specified
Moosend:1 Published limit (Pro)
Moosend
Max Team Members (Entry Plan)
iContact:Not specified
Moosend:2 Team Members (Pro)
Moosend
Security/SSO & SAML
iContact:Not explicitly stated
Moosend:Yes (Enterprise)
Moosend
Discount for Annual Billing
iContact:15% Savings
Moosend:20% Savings
Moosend
Drag-and-Drop Builder
iContact:
Moosend:
Tie
Pre-designed Email Templates
iContact:Hundreds
Moosend:Not specified
iContact
Developer API Access
iContact:Not specified
Moosend:
Moosend
Integration Ecosystem
iContact:Thousands (via 3rd Party)
Moosend:80+ Native
Moosend
Feature Comparison Summary
2
iContact
6
Ties
11
Moosend

Features Overview

We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

Pricing & Annual Value

Moosend is slightly cheaper and offers better annual discounts.

Moosend

iContact starts at $9 per month for 500 contacts on the Launch plan. Annual commitment only saves subscribers 15%. This pricing scales strictly based on your total contact count. Moosend's Pro plan starts effectively at $7 per month paid annually for 500 contacts. They give a significant 20% discount for commitment to yearly billing. Moosend undercuts iContact slightly when paying annually for the entry-tier plan. Both use a standard contact-based, usage model. Moosend also offers a 'pay-per-credit' option for very small or seasonal businesses.

Customer Support

Moosend guarantees 24/5 support; iContact support is critically unreliable.

Moosend

iContact provides phone, chat, and email support they label as 'Exceptional Support.' However, users report severe issues, including evasiveness and dismissiveness from agents. Moosend offers prompt access to agents via 24/5 Live Chat and Email support. Users consistently praise agents for being helpful and resolving issues quickly. Moosend delivers proven, reliable customer service during guaranteed hours. iContact's support process, particularly regarding billing, is a reported liability. Excellent support is crucial for complex marketing issues, making Moosend the safer choice.

Email Sending Limits

Moosend offers unlimited email sends; iContact’s sending quota is unclear.

Moosend

The iContact feature list does not specify any limits on monthly email sending quotas. High volume senders might quickly run into unlisted constraints. Moosend clearly grants "Unlimited Email Campaigns / Sents" across all contact-based paid plans. This eliminates worry about throttling. Moosend removes friction for aggressive or high-volume marketers trying to maximize reach. iContact users should confirm quotas before heavy usage. Unlimited sending power is ideal for businesses that email their full list daily or need frequent, predictable communication.

AI Content Assistance

iContact provides AI content creation on its entry plan; Moosend requires an upgrade.

iContact

iContact includes the AI-Powered Content Assistant starting on the affordable Launch tier. This tool instantly helps users defeat writer's block. Moosend offers its Content AI-Engine for optimization and drafting, but only on the Moosend+ plan. Baseline Pro users must manually draft content. The key difference is accessibility for budget users who need AI help immediately. iContact makes this feature universally available. If AI content generation is your top priority, iContact provides immediate access without forcing a costly plan upgrade.

Scalability & Enterprise

Moosend offers clearer enterprise paths and security guarantees like SLA.

Moosend

iContact is primarily suited for small businesses and doesn't detail high-end scaling features. There is no listed option for Dedicated IP or guaranteed performance via SLA. Moosend provides clear steps: Moosend+ for custom data and Enterprise for security. The Enterprise plan includes SSO/SAML add-ons and an SLA. Moosend scales robustly for large corporations worried about security and uptime guarantees. iContact seems to max out at the growing enterprise stage. If you plan to grow rapidly or manage 10+ team members, Moosend provides the necessary structural support.

Marketing Automation

Moosend supports complex multi-step workflows; iContact is basic segmentation.

Moosend

iContact focuses on core segmentation for precision targeting based on behavior or demographics. It does not explicitly mention advanced multi-step workflow builders. Moosend Pro includes one published automation workflow to start building basic funnels. Moosend+ unlocks sophisticated, multi-step marketing automation. Moosend is built to handle complex customer journeys as you scale your marketing strategy. iContact serves entry-level automation requirements well. Businesses requiring deep post-purchase follow-ups or complex lead nurturing should look toward Moosend+.

Reliability & Trust

Moosend is reliable; iContact is plagued by reports of major bugs and downtime.

Moosend

iContact reviews cite major platform downtime, even occurring over holiday weekends. Allegations of security breaches and predatory billing are also frequently noted. Moosend users generally report high deliverability and system stability. Reported technical bugs are limited but include unexpected data deletion. User sentiment shows Moosend inspires far more trust regarding system reliability and ethical business practices. iContact presents significant operational risk. Choosing Moosend protects you from potentially severe, business-critical service disruptions often linked to iContact.

Integrations Ecosystem

iContact offers connectivity with thousands; Moosend has 80+ native integrations.

iContact

iContact emphasizes seamless integration with 'thousands of apps' through third-party connections. This extends its utility across many specialized tools. Moosend supports over 80 native integrations, ensuring built-in, reliable performance with core services. Full API access is also available. iContact wins on the sheer potential breadth of connections using third-party services. Moosend focuses on secure, highly supported native links. If you use niche software, iContact may offer a pre-built connection or a simpler path to synchronization.

Our Verdict

Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and user fit.

This comparison isn't about minor features; it's about reliability and support. Based on user trust and stability, Moosend is the clear winner here. iContact offers some attractive entry-level features, but user reviews are alarmingly bad. You need a platform that won't risk your data or your budget. iContact’s main appeal is its AI-Powered Content Assistant available at its lowest price point. If writer's block prevents fast execution, iContact helps solve it instantly. Also, iContact claims integration with thousands of apps, expanding its connectivity greatly. Choose iContact if you absolutely need that immediate AI content power and template library. Moosend delivers fundamental quality: affordability and guaranteed stability. You get unlimited email sends on all paid plans, perfect for list growth. Moosend’s 24/5 live chat support is frequently praised as prompt and helpful by users. Their pricing is slightly lower yearly, starting at $7/month for Pro. The deciding factor must be trust and reliability. iContact is critically damaged by user reports of predatory and non-refundable billing. Contrast this with Moosend users reporting reliable service and ethical operations. Do not compromise your business on basic service guarantees. If you prioritize long-term certainty, choose Moosend for its strong support and reliability. Pick iContact only if you are willing to overlook severe review warnings for the low entry price and AI assistant. For most users, Moosend is the safer, smarter choice for scaling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for small budgets: iContact or Moosend?

Moosend is slightly cheaper if you commit annually; Pro starts at $7/month for 500 contacts. iContact starts at $9/month and offers a smaller 15% annual discount. Both platforms provide affordable entry points for new marketers.

Does Moosend offer an AI content writer like iContact?

Yes, Moosend has a Content AI-Engine, but it is reserved for the higher-tier Moosend+ plan. iContact includes its AI-Powered Content Assistant on the entry-level Launch plan for $9/month.

Which platform has better customer support?

Moosend is the undisputed winner for support, offering 24/5 Live Chat access to all users. iContact users report critical issues, including evasive support and refusal to process timely refunds.

Does iContact offer unlimited email sends?

No, iContact does not explicitly state unlimited sends, and quotas are unclear. Moosend clearly guarantees unlimited email campaigns and sends on all paid subscription plans.

Which tool is better for scalability and enterprise features?

Moosend scales much better, offering Moosend+ for custom reports and Enterprise plans. Moosend Enterprise provides Dedicated IP and SLA guarantees, features that iContact does not list.

Can I test iContact and Moosend before paying?

Yes, both iContact and Moosend offer generous 30-day free trials. Moosend does not require a credit card to activate its trial period.

Ready to Choose?

Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.