WordPress newsletter plugins compared

Below is an overview of some of the top WordPress newsletter plugins. Here, you’ll find standalone extensions and those that connect to an external newsletter service.

Before you can use the WP newsletter plugin, you need to link your WordPress using your Mailchimp API key. Once entered, the plugin confirms the integration. After that, you can create as many registration forms as you wish, adjust settings and positions. MC4WP displays the HTML code for these directly in the backend.

The newsletter subscription forms are:

• User-friendly
• Optimized for mobile devices
• GDPR-compliant (double opt-in can be (de)activated)
• Suitable for setting up automatic forwarding
• Suitable for embedding in posts or pages via WordPress shortcode

To design your newsletter, MailPoet provides a user-friendly editor in the backend and a handful of templates. Drag and drop fields, headers, images, etc. to the desired location. Alternatively, you can redesign your newsletter registration form from scratch.

The forms you can create with the WP newsletter plugin have the following features:

• Optionally presented as pop-up, slide-in, fixed bar or box at end/edge of page
• GDPR-compliant (double opt-in can be (de)activated)
• Individual color design of background, font, and frame
• Programming in CSS possible
• Integration in posts or pages via shortcode possible

The CleverReach WP WordPress newsletter plugin connects your WordPress page to the CleverReach newsletter tool developed in Germany. Once you’ve installed the extension, simply log in with your CleverReach information in the backend. Alternatively, you can create an account if you have not used the tool before. Afterwards, you can immediately use the limited Lite version of the software and send newsletters (up to 1,000) to up to 250 recipients with WordPress for free. Paid monthly tariffs are available to send higher volumes.

You create newsletters, emails, and recipient lists from the browser using the separate CleverReach web application. Use the THEA automation tool to plan and automate your newsletter distribution.

Other features of CleverReach WP are:

• Tagging system for recipients
• Multi-level bounce management to improve the delivery rate
• Simple data export and import of recipient lists
• GDPR compatibility
• SSL/TLS encryption for all forms

The user-friendly editor of the WP Newsletter plugin not only provides various ready-to-use templates (appointment announcements, blog summaries, product presentations, etc.), but also offers numerous ready-made modules you can use to freely design your digital newsletters. You can easily drag and drop the individual elements to the desired position.

Other features include:

• GDPR compliance (double-opt-in including checkbox to confirm data privacy)

• Automatic spam check for all newsletter registrations
• Detailed planning options for subscriber groups
• Compatible with all common SMTP plugins
• Subscriber import from a file possible

Mailster takes over your existing WordPress user entries; alternatively, you can import aCSV list of recipients. Once integrated or created, you can subdivide the subscribers into lists and define individual settings for the newsletters to be sent (for example, whether or not checkboxes should be used for a particular user).

Other highlights of the WordPress newsletter plugin at a glance:

• Automation of mailing process
• Real-time analysis of campaigns and subscribers
• SMTP support
• Bounce management
• For each campaign a web version is automatically created

The web is accessible from anywhere in the world. This means that your subscribers and page viewers may be based in the European Union. As of May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies across all EU member states. This means that the following now applies when sending newsletters: The recipient has to consent to the processing of their personal data and the processing needs to be legally compliant. In addition, you must be able to provide information at any time about how a subscriber’s personal data such as an email address is stored and used.

However, the GDPR doesn’t stipulate that consent must take the form of a double opt-in procedure. If you don’t issue a confirmation email to consent to a newsletter subscription, you’re technically not in violation of the GDPR. However, since the regulations stipulate that you must be able prove at any time that a user has agreed to receive your newsletter, you can use double opt-in as a proof of this requirement.