“### 1. Klaviyo: strongest hybrid approach”
“Its particularly interesting feature is the ability to create hybrid templates.”
“- Drag-and-drop editing for marketers.”
“- A dedicated HTML editor for fully custom emails.”
“- HTML blocks for inserting custom-coded elements into visual templates.”
“Trade-off: Custom HTML requires technical knowledge, and Klaviyo notes that its support team doesn't provide full custom-template development assistance.”
“### 2. Brevo: good flexibility without a complicated workflow”
“- HTML blocks: Insert custom HTML within a visually designed email.”
“- HTML custom-code editor: Upload an entire HTML email created externally.”
“- Developer mode: Access additional design customization through a YAML-based editor integrated into the visual builder.”
“Trade-off: Some HTML and CSS features aren't supported consistently by email clients, and developer mode doesn't support every CSS property.”
“A dedicated email design platform with visual editing and HTML access.”
“Useful for building reusable templates and exporting them to different email marketing platforms.”
“### 3. Mailchimp: approachable, but watch the builder distinction”
“Mailchimp has a familiar visual editing experience, with templates and content blocks for text, images, products, social links and other content.”
“It also supports custom HTML through code blocks.”
“- The new builder does not support creating custom-coded templates in the same way as the legacy builder.”
“Mailchimp's legacy builder availability is also restricted for some newer accounts.”
“### 4. Campaign Monitor: strong separation between visual and coded workflows”
“Campaign Monitor provides a clean visual editor designed around reusable layouts and content blocks.”
“Imported templates can contain designated editable regions, allowing marketers to change specific text and image content without rebuilding the entire email.”
“However, there's an important limitation: emails created in the visual builder cannot have their HTML directly edited or exported.”
“A visual email builder designed for reusable designs and collaborative production.”
“Particularly interesting for agencies and teams with more structured approval workflows.”