Quick Verdict
Choose AWeber if you want a straightforward email platform with a free plan that includes automation, simple sales pages and 24/7 support, without paying for tools you won't use.
Choose GetResponse if webinars and sales funnels are central to how you sell and you'd otherwise pay for separate tools to run them.
Most small businesses need sequences, newsletters and a way to sell a few products. AWeber covers that with less to learn. GetResponse earns its place when you'll genuinely use its webinar and funnel tools.
The Core Difference
GetResponse positions itself as a broader marketing platform: email plus sales funnels, webinars, a course creator and premium newsletters, spread across its plans. AWeber stays focused on email: forms, landing pages, sequences, newsletters and simple Stripe-powered selling.
Neither approach is better in the abstract. A bundle saves money and hassle if you use the extras, and adds cost and complexity if you don't.
AWeber vs GetResponse at a Glance
| Feature | AWeber | GetResponse |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan: 500 subscribers, 3,000 sends/month, 1 automation | 14-day trial of premium features, then a limited free account |
| Entry plan | Lite: $15/month ($12.50 annual), 3 automations | Starter: $19/month ($15.58 annual), 1 automation workflow |
| Unlimited automations | Plus: $30/month ($20 annual) | Marketer: $59/month ($48.38 annual) |
| Webinars | Not included | Creator: $69/month ($56.58 annual), up to 100 attendees |
| Course builder | No; connect a course platform | Creator plan |
| Abandoned cart | Ecommerce tools | Marketer and above |
| Selling | Stripe sales pages; fees 1.0% Lite, 0.6% Plus | Sales funnels and commerce tools |
| Support | 24/7; priority including phone on Plus | Phone support listed on Enterprise |
AWeber's prices are for 500 subscribers. GetResponse prices its monthly plans by list size from 1,000 contacts, so check its calculator for your exact number.
Pricing Compared
At their entry level, the two are close: AWeber Lite starts at $15 a month and GetResponse Starter at $19 a month. The bigger gap appears when you want unlimited automation.
AWeber unlocks unlimited automations on Plus, from $30 a month or $20 a month billed annually. GetResponse reserves unlimited automation workflows for Marketer, from $59 a month or $48.38 a month billed annually. For a business that mainly needs sequences, AWeber Plus is the lower-cost route.
GetResponse's Creator plan, at $69 a month, makes sense if you'd otherwise pay separately for a webinar platform and a course host. Our AWeber pricing guide lists every AWeber tier.
Automation
Both tools offer visual automation builders. AWeber's workflows use starters, messages, waits, tags and RSS checks, with click and open rules applying tags. GetResponse adds commerce-oriented automations, such as abandoned cart recovery, on Marketer and above.
The practical difference is how many workflows you get for your money: one free, three on Lite and unlimited on Plus with AWeber, against one workflow on Starter and unlimited on Marketer with GetResponse. See AWeber automation.
Webinars, Funnels and Courses
This is GetResponse's main advantage. Creator includes webinars for up to 100 attendees, a course creator and premium newsletters, and Marketer adds sales funnels.
AWeber doesn't host webinars or courses. Instead, you'd connect your preferred webinar or course platform and use AWeber for registrations, reminders and follow-up sequences. That's a reasonable setup, especially if you already have tools you like.
Landing Pages and Forms
Both tools include signup forms and landing pages. AWeber includes one landing page on its free plan, three on Lite and unlimited on Plus, with an AI landing page builder and a Stripe-powered ecommerce element for selling.
GetResponse's landing pages are capped at 1,000 unique visitors a month on its free account, with more capacity on paid plans, and its funnels link pages into multi-step sequences on Marketer and above.
If you want one focused page per lead magnet, either tool works. If you want multi-step funnels with upsells, GetResponse's funnel builder goes further. See AWeber landing pages.
Real Cost Scenarios
A coach with 500 subscribers who needs five automations. On AWeber, that's Plus at $240 a year on annual billing. On GetResponse, unlimited workflows mean Marketer, which starts at $48.38 a month billed annually, about $580 a year, and its list-size pricing starts at 1,000 contacts.
A course creator running monthly webinars. GetResponse Creator at $56.58 a month billed annually includes webinars for up to 100 attendees. On AWeber, you'd add a separate webinar tool to AWeber Plus. Compare the total cost of that pairing against Creator.
A newsletter writer with one welcome sequence. AWeber's free plan covers up to 500 subscribers at no cost, while GetResponse Starter starts at $19 a month.
Assumptions: prices from each vendor's pricing page; annual billing where stated; list sizes as described.
Ease of Use
AWeber is generally the simpler tool to learn because it does less. Its AI writing assistant, Newsletter Assistant and Smart Designer help you get from blank page to sent email quickly.
GetResponse's broader feature set means more menus and more setup decisions. If you'll use the extras, that's a worthwhile trade; if not, it's friction. See easiest email marketing software.
Support
AWeber offers 24/7 support, with priority support including phone on Plus, and free migration help. GetResponse's pricing page lists phone support on its Enterprise plan, with support channels varying by plan.
For beginners and small teams, AWeber's round-the-clock help from its first paid plan is a meaningful difference. See AWeber customer support.
Deliverability and Integrations
Both platforms support domain authentication and connect with common website, store and payment tools, plus Zapier. Inbox placement depends mainly on your own sender setup, list quality and engagement, so neither tool fixes poor habits.
Before choosing, confirm that your website platform, checkout and any webinar or course tool connect to your shortlist. See AWeber integrations and email deliverability.
Which Should You Choose?
You sell services, digital products or memberships, want unlimited automations at a lower price and value 24/7 support.
You run webinars regularly, want built-in funnels and courses and will use them enough to justify Marketer or Creator.
You're a course creator. Price GetResponse Creator against AWeber Plus plus your existing course and webinar tools.
Switching From GetResponse to AWeber
AWeber publishes a guide for moving from GetResponse and offers free migration help, including recreating custom templates. Export your contacts, rebuild your forms and keep your GetResponse account until your sequences are live. See AWeber migration.
AWeber Plus unlocks unlimited workflows from $20 a month on annual billing. Start free and upgrade when you're ready.
AWeber vs GetResponse FAQs
Is GetResponse cheaper than AWeber?
At entry level they're similar. For unlimited automations, AWeber Plus ($30/month, $20 annual) costs less than GetResponse Marketer ($59/month, $48.38 annual).
Does AWeber have webinars like GetResponse?
No. AWeber doesn't host webinars; you can connect a webinar tool and use AWeber for registrations and follow-ups.
Does GetResponse have a free plan?
GetResponse offers a 14-day trial of premium features, followed by a limited free account.
Which is easier to use?
AWeber is usually easier because it focuses on email. GetResponse offers more tools, with more to learn.