If you’re sending more and getting less, AI email marketing could be your key to hitting your email marketing goals.
Email is still a high-ROI channel, but increased competition in the inbox means you can’t rely on guesswork. AI email tools help enable smarter targeting, stronger copy, and sends that land when each person is most likely to engage. AI helps you automate the heavy lifting—then optimize toward what actually drives clicks and revenue.
With nearly 70% of marketers integrating AI into their workflows, if you haven’t yet explored the possibilities that AI email marketing tools offer, now is the time to start. Keep reading to learn about how AI is used in email marketing, top AI tools for email, and more.
Marketers are using AI for many different parts of their email strategy. You can split AI for email marketing into two main categories: generative and predictive.
Generative AI creates email content. It writes drafts and variants—subject lines, preheaders, body copy, CTAs, even image suggestions—so you can test quickly and stay on brand.
Predictive AI assists with data analysis and optimization. It learns from behavior and purchase data to segment audiences, time sends per recipient, and forecast outcomes like expected next order or predicted customer lifetime value (CLV).
These two AI capabilities work together to increase efficiency and relevance, which improve email performance.
Here’s a closer look at how email marketers are using AI.
Writing
One of the main uses of generative AI for email marketing is writing email copy, including body copy, subject lines, and preview text. It’s also useful for generating copy variants to A/B test.
Using AI copywriting for emails speeds up the process of coming up with ideas, researching topics, and getting words on the page. It can help produce higher-converting copy, especially when used with A/B testing. While AI tools are great for writing outlines and first drafts, it’s a best practice to have a human writer check the AI copy and create the final version.
Personalization and segmentation
AI tools can also quickly segment audiences and personalize emails to each recipient. With AI, you can quickly assess large sets of audience data and group subscribers so you can send more relevant emails. Combining this with individualized personalization creates a tailored email experience.
Email send timing
Another way AI increases email marketing engagement is by optimizing send timing. Tools like Seventh Sense and ActiveCampaign analyze engagement data and send emails when each recipient is most likely to open them.
Personalizing email send times with AI increases engagement, helping you hit your email goals.
Advanced A/B testing
AI tools can also optimize the A/B testing process by generating variables to test and automating the testing process. AI A/B testing allows you to iterate and improve your emails faster with less manual effort.
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AI can quickly analyze large amounts of data, enabling you to optimize beyond opens and clicks. With AI, you get insights into how your email marketing affects metrics like conversions, revenue, and customer satisfaction.
Combining email tools with your customer relationship management (CRM) and other tools makes this data analytics even more powerful.
Email list validation and cleanup
AI tools can help you check that the emails in your list are still active and safe to send to. This increases deliverability and protects your email sender’s reputation.
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When it comes to AI email marketing tools, you have plenty of options. You can explore both full-featured email platforms with AI capabilities and specialized tools designed to enhance specific aspects of your email campaigns.
We analyzed the features, usability, integrations, cost, performance, and AI capabilities of the best full-featured and specialized AI email marketing tools. Check out the results of our analysis below.
Motivation AI for language, dynamic email, experimentation
Works with major email platforms
Enterprise-ready
All-in-one tools
Here’s a look at the top full-featured email marketing software with AI features.
Nutshell
Rating: 4.7/5
Best for: CRM and email in one place
Nutshell is a simple, powerful CRM and marketing platform with practical AI for small to mid-sized businesses that want to do more with fewer tools. Features include CRM, integrated email marketing, forms and landing pages, web chat and SMS, and reporting. This all-in-one approach enables sales and marketing to collaborate seamlessly.
Usability is a strong suit. The interface is approachable and designed for quick onboarding. Integrations include Google/Microsoft suites and dozens of popular business apps to keep your workflows connected.
A major advantage of Nutshell is cohesion. CRM context fuels better targeting and measurement for email. AI capabilities include generative assistants and built-in agents to speed drafting, analysis, and follow‑ups. Nutshell also features other AI tools, such as a chatbot that helps capture and qualify website leads into the CRM.
Best for: Lifecycle automation with predictive send‑time
ActiveCampaign blends marketing automation with CRM-lite and useful AI. Features include visual automations, segmentation, site tracking, and deal pipelines. Usability is solid once set up, and power users benefit most. Integrations span Salesforce, Shopify, WooCommerce, WordPress, Slack, Calendly, Google Analytics, and more.
A standout feature is Predictive Sending, which uses machine learning to schedule delivery at the time each contact is most likely to engage, using historical behavior and lookalikes when data is sparse. AI capabilities also include an AI automation builder and win probability scoring.
Cost is tiered, and a free 14‑day trial is available.
Cons: Complexity can increase with scale, setup requires careful planning
Klaviyo
Rating: 4.6/5
Best for: Ecommerce brands needing predictive CLV/churn
Klaviyo’s differentiator is predictive analytics for ecommerce. Features include robust flows, segmentation, and out‑of‑the‑box predictions such as CLV, churn risk, and expected date of next order. Usability is strong for ecommerce teams, and predictions appear contextually in profiles and can be used in segments/flows. Integrations include major ecommerce platforms, and predictive analytics requires an ecommerce integration.
Performance gains typically show up in replenishment, win‑backs, and VIP treatment driven by predicted behavior. AI capabilities use applied machine learning to drive CLV, churn, and next order predictions that you can target with tailored offers and timing.
Cost is tiered by contacts, and a limited free plan is available.
Pros: Excellent predictive analytics, strong ecommerce data model
Cons: Best results require clean product and order data, value tied to leveraging predictions
HubSpot
Rating: 4.3/5
Best for: Teams that want AI email writing connected to CRM
HubSpot offers a unified CRM and Marketing Hub with an AI Email Writer that speeds on‑brand drafts and personalization. Features include email and journey builders, landing pages, attribution reporting, and sales and CRM tools. Usability is polished and consistent across hubs, which helps teams align quickly. Integrations are extensive across marketing and sales tools, which is helpful if you want to centralize on HubSpot.
The biggest upside of HubSpot comes from alignment because email activity ties directly to contacts, deals, and revenue in the same system. AI capabilities include email copy generation and broader assistants across content and operations. Cost ranges by tier, and add‑ons and free tools are available to get started with the basics.
Pros: Deep CRM alignment along with AI-assisted content and personalization
Cons: Pricing that rises with advanced features and potential overkill for simple needs
Mailchimp
Rating: 4.3/5
Best for: Fast, on‑brand email creation inside journeys
Mailchimp’s Intuit Assist brings generative AI into automation flow templates and creates designed emails that match your brand kit for common use cases. These include welcome, abandoned cart, and win‑back sequences. Features include a friendly email builder, journeys, segmentation basics, and ecommerce connections. Usability favors small teams that need speed. Integrations include major ecommerce platforms, and the AI-powered flow templates require a connected store.
Mailchimp’s value comes from speed. You can go from idea to sendable, on‑brand journeys quickly and iterate from there. AI capabilities include generative email content and layout that draw from your brand kit and store data while working inside the flow templates. Cost depends on tier, and the availability of AI features depends on your plan. A free plan and free trial are also available.
Pros: Speedy first drafts, brand-aware templates, low lift for common flows
Cons: Availability, eligibility constraints, and the continued need for human review
GetResponse
Rating: 4.1/5
Best for: Budget-friendly all‑in‑one email with AI copy and automation
GetResponse provides core email platform features that include an email builder, automations, segmentation, and landing pages. AI assistants help draft copy and speed up setup. Usability is straightforward for SMBs that need to launch quickly, and integrations cover common tools across ecommerce, content management, and advertising.
GetResponse performs well when it comes to basic automation and campaign needs. Predictive features are lighter than specialized tools, which is an expected tradeoff with the tool’s lower cost. AI capabilities focus on generative drafting and setup helpers that reduce campaign creation time. Cost is tiered, and a free plan and 30-day trial are available.
Pros: Good value, easy launch, a broad set of essentials
Cons: Less depth in predictive features and varying integration depth
Brevo
Rating: 4.2 out of 5
Best for: Affordable AI assistance across email tasks
Brevo’s Aura AI helps teams generate on‑brand email copy, auto‑segment audiences, optimize send times, and add dynamic product recommendations. Features include campaigns, automation, segmentation, transactional email, and a simple CRM. Usability is accessible for SMBs, and the platform is designed to be easy to adopt. Integrations include popular ecommerce and CMS tools.
Performance improvements with Brevo often come from AI assistance across the workflow, which is particularly helpful for lean teams. AI capabilities include prompt-based content generation, smart segmentation, best time sending, and recommendations within the platform. Cost is competitive for SMBs, and a free plan is available.
Pros: Cost-effectiveness, intuitive interface, AI embedded in key tasks
Cons: Limited support for highly customized data models and fewer advanced analytics
Specialized tools
There are also lots of AI tools out there designed for specific email marketing tasks. Here are some of the best.
Seventh Sense
Rating: 4.2/ 5
Best for: Precision send time optimization as an add-on
Seventh Sense personalizes send times for each recipient using engagement history. This helps lift opens and clicks without changing your content. Implementation is straightforward if your email program tracks engagement reliably. The tool is easy to use once configured, and integrations include tools like HubSpot and Marketo.
By optimizing send times, this tool can help you significantly improve engagement and deliverability over time. According to a recent case study, one brand using Seventh Sense even saw a 93% increase in opens and a 55% increase in clicks. AI capabilities include send time optimization and fatigue analysis.
Pricing depends on the email platform you use and the number of contacts you have in that platform.
Pros: High impact and low effort optimization
Cons: Only works with certain email platforms
Smartwriter.ai
Rating: 4/5
Best for: AI subject lines and first draft outreach copy
Smartwriter.ai accelerates subject line and email body drafting and is especially useful for outbound and prospecting messages. Features focus on AI writing and personalization rather than full email functions. Usability is straightforward—you enter prompts and receive multiple angles to test.
The main benefits of this tool come from faster ideation and testing cadence. AI capabilities deliver generative email copy and personalization helpers that speed up outreach.
Cost is tiered, and a seven-day free trial is available.
Pros: Rapid ideation and helpful support for outreach personalization
Cons: Requires review and voice tuning, limited analytics
Rasa.io
Rating: 4.3/5
Best for: Personalized newsletters
Rasa.io uses AI to personalize newsletters by curating articles for each recipient, which saves time and improves relevance. Features include source curation, personalization, scheduling, and analytics. You can either integrate this tool with your existing email platform or send emails directly through Rasa.io.
The high level of personalization that this tool enables can lead to increased engagement. According to a case study, the American Marketing Association saw an average open rate of 48% and monthly time savings of more than 75 hours.
Rasa.io offers a basic and enterprise plan.
Pros: Strong personalization at scale and major time savings
Cons: Most useful for curation-heavy newsletters, is not a full email platform
Jasper
Rating: 4.2/5
Best for: Advanced AI copy workflows for email teams
Jasper helps teams systematize AI copy across emails, landing pages, and ads. Features include brand voice controls, templates, and collaborative workflows that support repeatable production. Usability is strong for content teams, and it improves when you apply clear governance and prompts.
This tool can help you create emails faster and use a consistent tone across your campaigns. AI capabilities include generative copy with brand voice tuning and reusable workflows.
Jasper offers Pro and Business plans as well as a seven-day free trial.
Cons: The need for clear governance, offers minimal analytics
Persado
Rating: 4.5/5
Best for: Language performance and conversion lift
Persado’s Motivation AI optimizes language for action and integrates on top of your email platform. Its features include dynamic email content, experimentation at scale, and compliance-friendly workflows. AI capabilities include specialized language models, continuous testing, and generative AI.
This tool can help increase efficiency and engagement with email campaigns. One customer reported that using Persado helped them reduce setup time by 75% and increase clicks by 140%.
Persado is focused on enterprise users, and pricing is available by quote only.
Pros: Documented conversion gains along with rigorous optimization and guardrails
Cons: Enterprise focus, delivers the most value at higher volumes
Benefits of using AI for email marketing
We’ve hinted at many of the benefits of AI email marketing already, but let’s take a closer look at the advantages it can provide:
Improve efficiency: AI drafting reduces the time it takes to create an email campaign and increases the number of copy variants you can test, so you improve faster.
Increased engagement: Segmenting audiences, personalizing content, and optimizing send times increases engagement metrics like opens and clicks. Ultimately, this improves the experience for subscribers and improves deliverability.
Increased conversions: Alongside increased engagement, AI-driven language optimization and recommendations can increase conversions.
Expanded possibilities: Since AI can quickly analyze large volumes of data, you can learn more about your audience. Time savings from AI also free up your time to work on creative tasks and new ideas.
Challenges with AI email marketing
AI doesn’t always work perfectly, and using it can introduce some unexpected challenges, especially without a strong AI strategy in place. Here are the challenges to look out for and some best practices for dealing with them:
Hallucinations and oversight: Generative AI sometimes fabricates details, so it’s important to treat AI copy as a first draft and ensure there’s always a human involved.
Technical expertise and data readiness: Predictive AI requires clean, connected data to perform well. You’ll need to have a reliable system in place for handling your data, a solid plan for your AI use, and a team that knows how to use your tools effectively.
Privacy and security: Businesses need to ensure that they’re following all relevant privacy and security rules when collecting data. Since these rules can change over time, it’s important to watch for any new requirements.
FAQs about AI email marketing
What is AI email marketing?
AI email marketing refers to using artificial intelligence to improve email content, targeting, timing, testing, and measurement so campaigns are more relevant and effective.
Can AI be used in email marketing?
Yes, AI can be used for drafting copy, personalizing content and products, optimizing send times, and modeling performance, often directly inside modern email platforms.
What are the benefits of using AI for email marketing?
Using AI for email marketing can lead to higher engagement and conversions through relevance and timing, faster production with AI writing and testing, and better ROI through predictive targeting.
What are the best platforms for AI-driven email marketing?
The best all-in-one email platforms with AI include Nutshell, ActiveCampaign, Klaviyo, HubSpot, Mailchimp, GetResponse, and Brevo. The best specialized AI email marketing tools include Seventh Sense, Smartwriter.ai, Persado, Rasa.io, and Jasper.
What are some best practices for using AI in email marketing?
Start with clear goals and simple use cases, keep data clean, review AI copy for accuracy, and measure success beyond opens and clicks—toward conversions and revenue.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that AI-driven email marketing focuses on?
AI email marketing focuses on opens, clicks, conversion rate, revenue per recipient, and list health. Ecommerce brands may also focus on predicted next order and CLV.
How does AI impact deliverability?
Higher engagement from personalized content and optimal send times can improve deliverability, and AI can also assist with list validation.
Can AI replace email marketing teams?
No, AI accelerates drafts, testing, and targeting, but humans set strategy, ensure brand voice and accuracy, and integrate email with the broader customer journey.
Ready to do more with less?
If you want to do more in less time and integrate your sales, marketing, and customer communication, give Nutshell a try. Nutshell’s built-in email marketing tool and AI features make it easy to quickly create email campaigns that resonate with your audience and convert those subscribers into customers.
