Best Canadian Alternatives to Mailchimp

Olivier Rousseau
2 July 2023 Alternatives 2 min read

For any business doing email marketing and newsletters in Canada, there are many reasons why choosing a Canadian email provider like CyberImpact or Activity Messenger over Mailchimp might be a smart choice.

This short guide will compare and contrast Activity Messenger, CyberImpact and Mailchimp as email marketing solutions for Canadian businesses.

We’ll discuss:

The Advantages of using a Canadian Email Marketing provider:

  • Data stored in Canada
  • Ease of use
  • Customer Service in Canada
  • Bilingual platform

Comparable Features on all 3 platforms

  • Creating Email Templates
  • Subscription forms
  • Automations

The differences between CyberImpact and Activity Messenger:

Advantages of using a Canadian Email Platform

CyberImpact and Activity Messenger are both Canadian email marketing companies. CyberImpact was a pioneer in the world of email marketing in Canada, and is used by thousands of businesses across the country.

Activity Messenger, founded in 2019, is a newer option on the market that not only offers email marketing as an alternative to Mailchimp, but also offers other features such as surveys, ticket sales, online registrations, and digital waivers.

Both offer a great alternative to US-based tools like Mailchimp and here are a few reasons you might consider switching over to a Canadian email provider.

Data Storage in Canada

Tools like Mailchimp store your information in the US. Their privacy is therefore governed by the American government, which has different standards than Canada.

Activity Messenger, like Cyberimpact, stores all of your data in Canada.

Hosting your data in Canada ensures that all the data privacy laws are respected.

Service

Mailchimp offers very little support to its customers. Cyberimpact offers unlimited support, but only for the first 60 days. Activity Messenger offers unlimited support regardless of your plan. It’s also available in Canada with local experts, just like CyberImpact.

Once launched, clients rarely need our assistance. Thanks to the simplicity of the platform, the help portal, the training capsules on our YouTube channel and our monthly webinars, your success is guaranteed.

A bilingual and local email platform

Activity Messenger is bilingual. All templates and features in Activity Messenger are available in both English and French. You don’t have to translate anything.

By choosing either platform, you are also encouraging local purchases.

Comparable Features on all 3 platforms 

Activity Messenger, Mailchimp, and CyberImpact all offer customizable email templates with drag-and-drop editors that make it easy for businesses to create professional-looking emails for various marketing campaigns.

Professional Email Templates

Activity Messenger, Mailchimp, and CyberImpact all offer robust email template features that allow businesses to create compelling, professional emails. With drag-and-drop editors and pre-designed templates, these platforms make it easy to customize designs that match your brand.

Activity Messenger allows you to import designs without leaving the platform, thanks to its seamless integration with Canva. Mailchimp offers advanced templates designed to drive sales and engage audiences, while CyberImpact offers a range of customizable options for different marketing needs.

Subscription Forms

Subscription forms are essential for capturing new leads, and all three platforms excel in this area. Activity Messenger, Mailchimp, and CyberImpact allow users to create and customize forms without technical expertise thanks to intuitive drag-and-drop editors.

They offer the flexibility to customize colors, text, and images to match your brand identity, and they automatically adjust to different devices for optimal viewing. These forms can be used on websites, social media, from a QR code or even embedded into event pages, providing multiple channels to gain new subscribers.

Simplicity

Some newsletter systems are so advanced that they can be expensive and complex for SMBs without a dedicated email marketing team.

Activity Messenger is as easy to use as is CyberImpact.

The difference? Activity Messenger integrates Canva and ChatGPT within the platform.

Canva allows you to access your designs without leaving Activity Messenger. You won’t need to learn new tools or transfer files. 95% of Activity Messenger customers had already used Canva.

Marketing Automations

Marketing automation is another shared feature that simplifies and enhances email marketing efforts. Activity Messenger, Mailchimp, and CyberImpact allow businesses to set up automated workflows based on triggers like customer actions or predefined conditions. This feature helps businesses maintain consistent communication, whether it’s sending welcome emails to new subscribers, offering birthday discounts to loyal customers, or reaching out to inactive contacts.

Mailchimp offers advanced automations like abandoned cart emails through e-commerce integrations, while Activity Messenger and CyberImpact provide customizable workflows to suit various business scenarios.

The differences between CyberImpact and Activity Messenger:

Some of the key differences between the two platforms are Activity Messenger’s Canva integration, its ability to send bulk SMS, its support for both marketing and non-marketing emails, and its competitive pricing.

Canva Integration

You will need to learn a new editing program for CyberImpact or MailChimp. Activity Messenger allows you to create your designs using Canva.

Integration allows you to present the same image of your brand across all social media and websites.

Activity Messenger also integrates with ChatGPT to simplify your newsletter creation and design.

This integration gives you the ability to

  • Turn a draft into a finished text
  • Correct grammar and spelling.
  • Improve the text or make it easier to understand by modifying the existing text
  • Translate from English to French and vice versa
  • We have some new ideas to inspire your next newsletter.

Bulk SMS & Texting

Communicating with participants, clients and their families is an important part of any organization. Activity Messenger allows you to be more flexible in your outreach.

In some cases, texting/SMS has become the preferred method of communication between an organization and a client.

Imagine you need to reschedule or cancel an event, class or time at the last minute. Bulk SMS ensures that everyone receives the information in a timely manner. SMS has a 98% open rate. You can be sure that your message will reach almost all recipients.

With Activity Messenger, you can reach your customers via SMS or email, depending on the context.

Sending marketing and non-marketing emails

Mailchimp, CyberImpact and other tools are limited to marketing communications. Activity Messenger allows you to send communications other than marketing. What does that mean exactly?

Imagine you need to send an email reminder to everyone who has registered for an event a few days before the event. It takes a long time to send a message to many people using Gmail/Outlook. CyberImpact and MailChimp will not send it to people who have unsubscribed (even if they registered for the activity).

Activity Messenger allows you to send emails that are not marketing related (transactional or administrative, such as unsubscribes, changes, etc.). Even people who have unsubscribed from your marketing list can receive the email.

Price

Mailchimp & Cyberimpact pricing is based on the total number of contacts. It increases quickly. Activity Messenger has only three categories. There are three categories: Less than 2,500, 5000, and 10,000 You’ll save money by switching to Activity Messenger no matter which plan you choose.

Comparison table

Activity Messenger CyberImpact MailChimp
Bulk SMS
Canva & ChatGPT Integration
Simple to use
Bilingual
Marketing & non-marketing
Integrated surveys  
Compliance with Canada’s Laws
Data stored in Canada

Watch the 2-minute explainer video! 👇

Much more than your newsletters

Activity Messenger allows you to send newsletters without spending a fortune. The real value in our system comes from the integration of tools that allow you to manage your organization better, such as:

Surveys
Registration platform
Digital signature
Bulk certificates
Online ticketing
SMS reminder

Activity Messenger is an all-in-one software with simple yet powerful features designed for Canadian SMBs and organizations.

FAQ

  1. Is MailChimp a Canadian company?
    No, MailChimp is based in the United States. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2001.
  2. Is there a better system than MailChimp?
    This depends on your specific needs. While MailChimp is popular, there are Canadian alternatives like Activity Messenger that offer specialized features catering to different types of businesses.
  3. Does MailChimp have Canadian servers?
    MailChimp primarily uses servers based in the U.S., which may have implications for users with data sovereignty concerns in Canada.
  4. What are the advantages of using a Canadian alternative to MailChimp?
    Canadian alternatives like CyberImpact and Activity Messenger might offer better data privacy, comply with local regulations, and understand the unique needs of Canadian businesses.
  5. Are there any Canadian-based email marketing platforms that offer free plans?
    Yes, many Canadian-based platforms offer free tiers, similar to MailChimp, which can be ideal for smaller businesses and startups.
  6. What features should I look for in a Canadian alternative to MailChimp?
    Consider features like ease of use, pricing, data privacy, integrations, customer support, and the ability to handle email marketing regulations like CASL.
  7. How does CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation) impact email marketing in Canada?
    CASL requires businesses to obtain explicit consent before sending commercial electronic messages, making it crucial to choose a platform that simplifies compliance.
  8. Can I import my existing email list to a Canadian MailChimp alternative?
    Most alternatives offer import tools, allowing you to migrate your email lists from MailChimp or other platforms easily.
  9. Do Canadian email marketing platforms offer customer support in both English and French?
    Some Canadian platforms cater to the bilingual nature of Canada by offering support in both languages, making it easier for customers.
  10. Can I integrate Canadian alternatives with other tools and software?
    Many Canadian platforms offer integrations with popular tools like CRM software, analytics, and social media, enhancing the overall marketing experience.

Written by Olivier Rousseau Olivier is a kids sports programs owner who has been operating for over a decade with locations in Montreal, Quebec city & Ottawa. He also helps Gymnastics Club, Swim Schools and Dance Studios streamline their operations. He is the co-founder of Activity Messenger an online registration platform for the sports & leisure industry.

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